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Washington Commanders are lost and head coach Dan Quinn is searching for answers
In a meltdown reminiscent of the Washington Commanders’ inglorious past, many of their fans took to social media this week to excoriate the team after its 44-22 blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
As if the drubbing at the hands of their archrivals wasn’t enough, the Commanders have often appeared to be in disarray this season – one that began with so much promise after their surprising run to last season’s NFC Championship Game.
With a potentially brutal stretch ahead on their schedule, things only figure to get harder for the reeling Commanders (3-4). Losers of consecutive games and three of four, they next travel to face the resurgent Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) on Monday Night Football without star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was ruled out Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.
Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledges the Commanders are lost.
“We’re off course,” Quinn told reporters on Monday. “We have to get back on.”
Most of Quinn’s focus will be on Washington’s defense – which has been awful.
Missed tackles, blown assignments, head-scratching penalties – game after game, the Commanders appear rudderless. Off their horrendous performance against Dallas alone, the Commanders could compile a long instructional video on the wrong way to play defense in the NFL. It’s really that bad.
And Quinn knows it.
“Our identity has not come together,” he said. “These next four games until our bye [week], we’ve got a lot of work to do to help create that [identity]. … Lots to work on.”
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin opens up about his injury and up-and-down year
The mental roller coaster of the last 10 months, however, was at times difficult, McLaurin admitted.
“I definitely had some tough days where you’re just kind of like, ‘Dang, this sucks,’” he said. “… I’ve had a lot of great talks with my teammates and coaches, and (Washington coach Dan Quinn) supported me a lot, my wife has supported me day in, day out, my friends. … I’m just looking forward to being back out there. I think I sometimes get ahead of myself and have these expectations or have this view of how I want things to go, and sometimes life doesn’t work out that way.”
The injuries have not only created a talent drain for the Commanders’ offense, but they’ve also prompted opposing defenses to attack Washington differently.
“Terry is such a big loss,” said former Washington and Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith, who is now an NFL analyst for ESPN. “… The guys (Daniels) has been playing with on the outside, I’ve actually been so impressed with what they’ve done, especially the last few weeks. But they’re really hamstrung, so defenses are really saying, ‘If we can load the box, we can play these guys one-on-one. We can really put an extra hat in the run game and we can put a hat down here for Jayden and his legs.’ And I think that you’ve seen that the last couple weeks.”
In the first three weeks, with McLaurin starting, the Commanders faced man coverage on 20.1 percent of their plays and a heavy box on 50 percent of plays.
Over the last four weeks, with McLaurin and Brown both out, the Commanders faced man coverage on 29.1 percent of snaps and a heavy box on 56.5 percent of plays. Against the Cowboys in Week 7, when Washington was without its top three receivers, the Commanders faced man coverage on 46.9 percent of their snaps.
Washington Post (paywall)
Scary season: Terry McLaurin expected to return for Commanders on Monday
as he worked his way back from a right quadriceps/hip flexor strain, McLaurin also tried to remain patient. When he returned, he knew he wanted to be 100 percent.
“I’m an explosive athlete,” he said Friday in his first comments to reporters since he suffered the injury. “So a lot of things that are a part of my game, I need to feel that [they] are 100 percent before I could put myself out there. Because I’m not only hurting the team, but I’m hurting myself.
“Being able to accelerate and run by people, slam on the brakes — that’s my game. My injury hindered a lot of that. But I feel really good right now.”
Barring any last-minute setbacks, McLaurin is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has been a full participant in practice this week and said Friday, “I’m happy to say that I feel like myself.”
Washington Post (paywall)
Whitt says Magee is set for larger role
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said he wants to see the defense play faster. Personnel changes could help.
He suggested that one such change could be an increased workload for linebacker Jordan Magee, a fifth-round draft pick in 2024 who has more sideline-to-sideline speed than regular linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner.
“We’re going to give Jordan more looks and more opportunities,” Whitt said. “He came in and played with good speed, so I’m excited to see him with his snap count going up. And then you’ll see a little bit of [rookie Kain Medrano] as well to see how he can add to the party.”
Whitt also said he’s confident in the team’s plans to adjust to the continued attrition at edge positions, with Washington now having lost three of its top four defensive ends.
“I’m not going to tell you exactly what we’re going to do,” Whitt said. “But I’m comfortable with what our plan is for this game.”
Commanders.com
4 takeaways from Marcus Mariota’s Week 8 press conference
He loves playing at Arrowhead Stadium.
Arrowhead Stadium has a reputation for being a difficult venue for the Kansas City Chiefs’ opponents. It was voted by 111 players as the toughest place to play in the NFL because of the raucous fan base, brutal winter weather and design of the stadium that amplifies the crowd noise. The noise at Arrowhead reached 142.2 DB in 2014 — a Guiness World Record.
Despite all that, Mariota loves playing at Arrowhead.
“I just love the atmosphere,” he said. “It reminds me a lot of college. I love playing on the road. I think that kind of us versus everybody mentality is something that I really feel like I’ve thrived on in my career.”
Mariota has had success at Arrowhead in the past. He and the Tennessee Titans pulled off a comeback against the Chiefs in the Wild Card round of the playoffs that included him throwing a touchdown pass to himself. Although Mariota has returned to Arrowhead since that game in 2018, it will be the first time as a starter.
And just because he likes playing there doesn’t mean he believes it’s an easy place to play. He knows Monday’s game will be tough, so their execution has to be pristine.
“As long as you get everybody going on the same page and you’re communicating, it allows you to be able to execute and do what you need to do.”
A to Z Sports
Commanders should replace Marshon Lattimore
The defense has been awful through the first seven games, and there are many fingers to point on defense, from the linebackers to the secondary. The one clear weakness, however, comes from a trade for a big-name veteran that has taken a turn for the worse. Lattimore was supposed to be an x-factor this season now that he’s finally healthy, but we’re seeing the same liability in coverage every week.
Teams are singling out Lattimore and coverage, and taking advantage of his playing status. Whether it’s deep passes in coverage or drawing penalties, offenses are creating explosive plays on Lattimore at a high rate, as he’s one of the worst corners in the league this season.
According to PFF, Lattimore has given up 17 catches for 258 yards, which is an average of 15.2 yards per catch. Yikes. He also has the second-most penalties by an outside corner with seven. Nothing will change if they keep Lattimore on the field, and the season will be over in three weeks with losses. It’s time to see what you really have on the team by putting Jones on the field.
Commanders should start Jonathan Jones
It makes too much sense to put Jones on the field at this rate, because things couldn’t possibly be any worse. Jones just came back from injury last week and can play both inside and outside corner. Mike Sainristil has also struggled big time this season after being moved into the slot, so maybe Jones can play inside, and Sainristil can go back outside. Jones has played primarily on the outside, even as a smaller corner, but still has plenty of experience in the slot.
Washington Post (paywall)
Time to establish the run
While Kansas City is allowing only 17.7 points (third), its run defense has been mediocre. It is surrendering 105.7 rushing yards per game (15th) and 4.5 yards per carry (21st).
The presence of McLaurin and Samuel also will make it more difficult for the Chiefs to load the box and play certain coverages as they aim to limit Washington’s rushing offense.
“There’s certain coverages that teams aren’t willing to play when you have guys like that on the field,” Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. “They can definitely help open things up if they’re able to go.”
The Commanders have been highly effective running the ball — they’re averaging 148.9 rushing yards (second) and 5.4 yards per carry (first) — but the rate at which they have done so has fluctuated. They’re averaging only 27.4 rushing attempts per game (13th).
Podcasts & videos
“I can help this team win” Commanders’ Rookie Jaylin Lane + Legendary WR Ricky Sanders | Next Man Up
Washington Commanders vs Kansas City Chiefs | Week 8 Game Preview
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
George Pickens’ future could dictate Cowboys trade plans
Pickens has exceeded all expectations and proved in the absence of CeeDee Lamb that he could be a dominant No. 1 wide receiver. If Dallas wants to maximize their window now, in fear that his price has gotten astronomical, then maybe the Cowboys trade for a star defensive player looking for a new deal, and they allocate funding next year for them, knowing Pickens will most likely walk.
If the front office wants to retain the 24-year-old receiver as a key part of their revamped offense, they may decide not to pursue a top-tier defender. Trading for Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby or Jeffrey Simmons might require reworking a new contract to get the deal across the finish line, similarly to Micah Parsons, who wouldn’t be traded unless the new team agreed to a historic contract extension.
The bottom line seems to be all about numbers. It’s not impossible to imagine a world where Dallas keeps a star defender acquired in a trade and Pickens for 2026, but the cap fit may be a little tight
Blogging the Boys
5 things to watch when the Cowboys play the Broncos
[T]he Broncos bring the heat as they generate pressure on a league-best 47% of their pass rushes. With an edge duo of Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper (14 sacks between them), the Broncos should cause some problems for Cowboys’ tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph loves to line up several defenders at the line of scrimmage and challenge the OLine to sort out the pass-rush. How well Dak and company can handle the pass rush should go a long way in determining how much success the offense, and subsequently the team, will have on Sunday.
Big Blue View
Survey results: Giants Fans want DC Shane Bowen gone
This week we asked the Big Blue View community whether they think Bowen should be fired, and if so, when.
The result was overwhelmingly that Bowen should be fired, and fired as soon as possible.
Most recently, the Giants suffered a historic collapse that saw them squander a 26-8 lead over the Denver Broncos. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said after the game that he wasn’t considering any changes to the coaching staff, at least “at this time”.
However, there’s been a pattern of poor play from Bowen’s unit. The Giants’ defense has struggled in almost every area under Bowen, and has continued to do so this year despite having almost all of the teams’ resources poured into that side of the ball.
The Giants’ loss in Denver may have been the final straw for many Giants fans, but Bowen was already on thin ice with the fanbase. And while Bowen has adapted his style and scheme to the Giants’ personnel, the results just haven’t been there — even before the Broncos game.
The Athletic (paywall)
A.J. Brown’s frustration is loud, but Jeffrey Lurie’s message is louder
The defending Super Bowl champs are getting phone calls and interest in wide receiver A.J. Brown, but for now, the Eagles want him on their team.
That’s despite Brown’s ongoing social media gripes after wins and losses, including his latest after a 121-yard, two-touchdown performance in a win over the Vikings, when he captioned his Instagram photos with: “using me but not using me.”
Translation: The Eagles are using him when they are in trouble, but not involving him consistently enough for his liking.
He’s clearly losing patience.
Brown — who will miss Week 8 with a hamstring injury — is loved in the Eagles’ locker room and even has a lengthy personal history with his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, but it’s obvious something has changed between the two on the field. The Eagles will say everything is fine, but many around the league can see it plainly on the film.
An opposing defensive coach said he actually understands Brown’s frustration.
“Hurts struggles against zone,” he said. “That’s when A.J. goes MIA. There are times it looks like Hurts doesn’t fully trust what he’s seeing, so he checks it down and plays it safe. It’s either a deep shot or a checkdown — not much in between. The timing is just off. And you can see it on the field — the communication between Hurts and Brown just isn’t there right now.”
The question is inevitable: If Brown continues to seem miserable in the final 10 days before the trade deadline, does something have to change?
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles vs. Giants Game Preview: 5 questions and answers with the Week 8 enemy
I’ve noticed you’ve mentioned the Giants could be both buyers and sellers before the trade deadline. Who should they ship out and who should they acquire?
Well, what they could really use is a wide receiver. Wan’Dale Robinson is their No. 1 guy. He’s having a fantastic year, best of his four-year career, but he is still a 5-8 slot guy with the shortest arms in the league and you can’t expect him to go out and win 50-50 balls in 1-on-1 matchups. You have to scheme to get him the ball. They have to give their rookie quarterback the best chance to succeed, and if they can find a receiver who is more than a rental they should try to do that.
As for selling, if anyone out there wants guys like Evan Neal, Deonte Banks, Russell Wilson or Jalin Hyatt the Giants should happily accept whatever draft capital they can get in return. There are a lot of people who think they should trade Kayvon Thibodeaux. I am not in fovor of that, unless the return is substantial.
Bleeding Green Nation
Are you a ” Satisfied Eagles fan” or do you want more?
[T]oday, as Eagles fans and already living through the 80s, 90s, 2000s and the current era, how happy are you as of now with all the success this team has had and do you still need another Superbowl or would you be perfectly fine with the team fizzling out back to being an average team with little chance of winning Superbowl but knowing that you enjoyed being the fan of one of NFLs most successful teams in history?
I’m nearly 65 now and I can honestly say that if the Eagles miss winning a Superbowl this year and the door closes ( which, sadly, it is going to) I will be perfectly happy knowing and living through the last 40 years of Eagles football and be grateful for what the last 8 years have given me.
Upcoming opponent
Hogs Haven
Washington Commanders vs Kansas City Chiefs Week 8: Five Questions with Arrowhead Pride
Tell us about Rashee Rice and how he changes the Chiefs’ offense.
Rashee Rice completely changes the dynamic of this offense. He’s probably the most complete receiver on the roster — strong after the catch, physical in traffic, and capable of winning on all three levels of the field. His chemistry with Mahomes is undeniable, and we saw it immediately in his first game back.
What makes Rice especially valuable is his ability to thrive in the short and intermediate game while defenses have to respect the speed of Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thorthorn deep. That spacing opens up the middle of the field for Rice to operate, and his quickness after the catch turns simple plays into explosive gains. Combine that with the athleticism of the Chiefs’ tackles and guards on screens, and this offense suddenly looks much more versatile.
Washington Commanders vs Kansas City Chiefs | Week 8 Game Preview
NFL league links
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ESPN
Sources: Falcons highly likely to start Kirk Cousins vs. Dolphins
Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday morning.
Starter Michael Penix Jr. suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers as the Falcons dropped to 3-3. Penix was limited in practice the past two days and listed Friday as questionable for Sunday’s game.
On Friday, Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Cousins had taken “significant” reps this week in practice and more reps later in the week rather than earlier.
Penix has gone 4-5 as a starter. The second-year quarterback hasn’t quite found his rhythm yet in the NFL. Penix has completed 61% of his passes this season for 1,409 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a 47.7 QBR, which ranks 22nd in the NFL.
The expected start for Cousins comes as Saturday marks the 10-year anniversary of Washington’s 31-30 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and Cousins’ famous postgame quote: “You like that?!”
Discussion topics
NFL.com
Ranking top 10 players from loaded 2024 NFL Draft class: Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye at No. 1?
Rank 7 – Caleb Williams – Chicago Bears · QB
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 1 overall
The former No. 1 overall pick is starting to fulfill his promise as a franchise quarterback in the Windy City. New head coach Ben Johnson has fostered growth from Williams by installing a balanced offense that features a mix of runs and passes to alleviate some of the pressure on the 23-year-old. As the 4-2 Bears continue to tweak the system and supporting cast around their QB1, the second-year pro could climb this list, with his blue-chip ability translating to potent production on the field. The natural arm talent and plus athleticism are evident every game, but Williams needs more play-to-play consistency in order to join the upper ranks of the game’s most important position.
Rank 2 – Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders · QB
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 2 overall
In a “What have you done for me lately?” league, Daniels has lost his grip on the No. 1 spot in this class. Despite running away with the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and guiding the Commanders to an improbable NFC Championship Game appearance, Washington’s regression in 2025 and Daniels’ injury-marred sophomore season make him the runner-up in this re-do. But don’t get it twisted: I’m still extremely high on this polished dual threat. The electric running ability and deft touch with the football drop your jaw, but his preternatural calm might be the most striking quality. No moment is too big for the 24-year-old, which bodes quite well for a franchise that hasn’t enjoyed much success in the past 30 years. Now the 3-4 Commanders just need that hamstring to heal.
Rank 1 – Drake Maye – New England Patriots · QB
DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 3 overall
Maye has captivated the football world with a spectacular start to his second season, spawning conversation that he could soon join the big four at quarterback (Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow). Obviously, the 23-year-old needs to keep this up in order to reach such rarefied air, but he has made a quantum leap under the direction of new head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Through the first seven weeks of the season, Maye leads the NFL with a 75.2 percent completion rate, while also posting sparkling figures in TD-to-INT ratio (12:2), yards per attempt (8.6) and passer rating (116.4). He’s been staggeringly effective downfield, too, boasting a perfect 158.3 passer rating on throws of 20-plus air yards. (That’s ridiculous.) With the 5-2 Patriots sitting alone atop the AFC East, Maye has entered the MVP discussion and surpassed his peers as the QB1 of a stacked 2024 crop at the position.
