We have already written a ton about that fateful end-of-game sequence that concluded Sunday’s game with the New York Giants in a 27-27 tie that sure felt like a gut-wrenching loss.
There will be some mentions of it here, but we’re not going to break it down on a granular level. We’ve already done that in the stories linked below.
It’s also fair to mention the Commanders should’ve secured victory well before that. They were up 14 points with roughly seven minutes to go. The Giants ended regulation with 14 unanswered
points, finishing with two touchdown drives that sandwiched a Commanders three-and-out.
That’s all bad. Not everything that happened on Sunday was terrible. Let’s breakdown how the Commanders looked in every phrase in this Week 5 report card.
Rushing offense
The Commanders running game totaled 202 yard on 30 carries, a quality number that shouldn’t be discounted by the fact Jayden Daniels rushed for more than half of them (and two touchdowns) on nine carries. That still left a 4.7-yards-per-carry average for the running backs, paced by Bill Croskey-Merritt’s 82 (and a TD) on 11 totes. It sure helps the run game to have Sam Cosmi back and Lucas Patrick’s clear upgrade at center.
Some better second-half work would’ve sustained drives and iced the game, but that didn’t happen.
While that last play was technically a run, that doesn’t impact this grade. That was a lapse in judgement.
Grade: A-minus/B-plus
Passing offense
Daniels completed 17-of 25 passes for 199 yards, not a massive total but still at eight yards per attempts and a 91.9 rating. He also had some clutch throws to Terry McLaurin and Treylon Burks down the stretch. Chig Okonkwo started fast and then fizzled. The Commanders were able to move the ball through the air, but the passing game wasn’t dominant. And, can Washington stop throwing Dyami Brown the ball? Only bad things happen.
The pass protection was an issue, especially with left tackle Brandon Coleman dealing with Abdul Carter and blitzers from his side. He struggled mightily. It’ll take the All-22 to analyze the protection completely, but five sacks and seven hits on Daniels is too many.
Grade: C-plus
Rushing defense
The Commanders defensive line is looking stout these days, and holding the Giants to 3.7 yards per carry is decent despite NYG exceeding 100 overall. Getting that Cam Skatebo fumble in overtime was huge (until it was negated). Letting Jameis Winston run at important times can’t happen, though. Washington shut down the zone-read. Overall, this phase remains the defensive hallmark.
Grade: B-plus
Passing defense
The Commanders let a backup quarterback, albeit a veteran in Winston throw for 326 yards. All those blitzes worked early until they didn’t. Amik Robertson got robbed of an interception at the goal line by a brutal pass interference call that was a game-changer. He had a tough assignment against Malik Nabers and held his own.
Washington got a key sack-fumble from K’Lavon Chaisson but only two sacks overall. Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely went off — Nabers was better when Robertson wasn’t on him — to an unacceptable point.
The secondary is a complete mess outside of Robertson and the occasional Rasul Douglas pass defensed. The Commanders have personnel problems at safety and cornerback right now and it’s costing them dearly, as it did during that late-game Giants run, when Winston had a (no joke) 131.7 passer rating.
Grade: F
Special teams
Drew Stevens made both of his field-goal attempts and should’ve been given a third to win but never got it. Punter Tress Way dropped two of his six punts inside the 10-yard line and averaged 52 yards per punt. That’s, you know, good. The Commanders clearing miss Jaylin Lane returning punts and kicks.
Grade: B
Coaching
Clock and game management are on coaching. Always. Quinn took blame for that disastrous end-of-game sequence and he should’ve considering what happened. The play call was for Daniels to hit someone quickly on the sideline or throw it out of bounds — why did it tuck it? — but Quinn should’ve said to clock it on that play, even if he had to overrule OC David Blough to do so.
It was a makable field goal. Stevens should’ve had a chance to attempt it.
Also, all these pre-snap penalties fall on coaching, too. They were drive killers in a few instances.
While Quinn’s taking most of the blame here, Daronte Jones’ game plan worked until it fell apart in the second half. He just kept sending the house and Winston just kept completing passes. The Commanders have been conceding second-half points in high volume. Jones needs to find things that work for the talent level available, though he desperately needs secondary help.
Overall, though coaching committed some unacceptable mistakes in this one. It was a disaster through and through.
Grade: (Wish there was a grade lower than) F
How would you grade the Commanders in each phase of this game? Let us know in the comments below:
