What is the story about?
The Rams came to the nation’s capital with one plan in mind. Get Puka Nacua the ball. Washington had one job to do. Limit Puca’s impact in the game. THEY FAILED!
Daronte Jones let a 38-year-old quarterback sit back in a relatively clean pocket and pick them apart by going to ONE MAN!
This loss, coupled with a Giants win over the Eagles, all but seals Washington’s fate for the 2026 campaign. There should be NO trading for players at the deadline. The only thing that should come of this loss is SWEEPING
CHANGES to both the staff and starting lineup!
Below are my Studs and Duds of the game, followed by some notes.
Studs:
- WR Van Jefferson: After being activated from the practice squad out of necessity, Jefferson made the most of his opportunities by hauling in five receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. He showed good hands and solid run-after-catch ability.
- LBs Frankie Luvu/Sonny Styles: The linebacker due combined for 28 total tackles, a sack (Luvu), three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits and four pressures. Styles had a nice pass defended that the refs INCORRECTLY called him for pass interference on.
- S Nick Cross: Cross was all over the field making plays. He had eight total tackles (six solo), one tackle for a loss, three passes defended, a fumble recovery and a nice interception. When he’s been on the field, he’s been as advertised.
Duds:
- Second-Half David Blough: I thought we were seeing some real growth from first-year offensive coordinator David Blough — and then the second half occurred. The Commanders offense was almost unwatchable, and Blough is the one who gets the blame. We saw more pre-snap penalties, limited help for his struggling offensive tackles and hardly any downfield shots. And it’s worth mentioning that two of the Rams top corners were not playing.
- LT Brandon Coleman: I HAVE SEEN ENOUGH!!!!! Brandon Coleman has become unplayable. This “staff” benched Mike Sainristil for poor play. Now it’s time to do the same to Brandon Coleman. Esa Pole can’t be any worse…
- EDGE Odafe Oweh: For how much the Commanders are paying this guy to make an impact on our defense, he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING against the Rams front. This may go down as yet another Adam Peters blunder.
- Daronte Jones: You KNEW the Rams had one player on offense who could hurt Washington, and Jones’ defense let him eat all game, to the tune of 14 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also had two carries for 20 yards. So, ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY YARDS AND A SCORE!!! He’s good, I get it, but Jones’ defense literally let one may beat us. ONE MAN!
- CB Trey Amos: After an exceptional game against the Eagles last week, Amos came back down to reality. He was matched up often on Puka Nacua and he couldn’t stop the All-Pro receiver. I do pin a LOT of the blame on Daronte Jones, but guys need to step up and preform. Amos did not. The fourth-and-3 where Amos gave Nacua a 10-yard cushion was inexcusable!
- GM Adam Peters: Hey Adam – You told fans and media all summer we were good at Center… Now, we get word that Nick Allegretti is no longer even playing center!!! I look around the NFL at all these young quarterbacks and the STRUCTURE they have been given early in their careers; and then I look at Jayden Daniels.
Notes:
- This was another game where QB Jayden Daniels didn’t look particularly sharp, but I’m going to absolve him of some of the blame due to complete incompetence by Brandon Coleman, poor play calling by David Blough in the second half, some untimely drops and being without many of his top receiving targets. He’s still misfiring on some throws and not connecting on ones where he has guys petty open (Van Jefferson in the fourth quarter), and it’s fair to question some of his decisions. He did have his first turnover of the year — a fumble caused by Myles Garrett — on a poor blocking attempt. Count me unimpressed with all the check downs and his 274 passing yards.
- TE Chig Okonkwo caught six of his seven targets for 57 yards and showed his not afraid to make tough catches in traffic.
- DB Quan Martin was coming downhill and laying the wood on guys! He’s been playing a LOT better as of late.
- WR Antonio Williams did not play his best game, but patience is going to be key with the rookie. He had a drop and missed a block (although I do put blame on Blough for asking him to seal the edge) that caused an Ekeler run to come up short.
- Y’all still think RT Josh Conerly is “improving”? He was also the culprit that tripped up John Bates because he was pushed into the backfield (which we see happen often), which caused Bates to stumble and not get to his block, on the play where Jayden fumbled. I’m looking forward to seeing how SIS and NextGen have him graded this week – because THESE eyes thought it wasn’t very good.
- RB Rachaad White had a really nice run-and-catch on a screen and I thought he blocked pretty well when he stayed in to help. He also had a few nice runs, one of which was called back because of a Sam Cosmi hold.
- EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson continues to show he deserves a long-term deal in Washington.
- K Drew Stevens was perfect on his two field goals and his extra points.
- HC Dan Quinn is a COWARD! Oh, and his team has YET to put four quarters of football together. Fire this man to the MOON!
- IT’S TIME TO BLOW THIS THING UP AND START FRESH!
QB comparison:
Caleb Williams
- Has a competent head coach in Ben Johnson
- Stud running back in D’Andre Swift
- Two young, stud drafted receivers in Luther Burden and Rome Odunze
- Two good tight ends in Colston Loveland (first round pick) and Cole Kmet (IR)
- Great offensive line
- 7-2
Drake Maye
- Has a competent head coach in Mike Vrabel
- Good running back in Rhamondre Stevenson and young guy in TreVeyon Henderson (RD2)
- Traded for a WR (A.J. Brown) and signed one in free agency (Romeo Doubs) – both on IR
- Good offensive line with Will Campbell improving and took Caleb Lomu RD1 in 2026
- Good tight end in Hunter Henry
- 5-4
Bo Nix
- Has a competent head coach in Sean Payton
- Good young running back in Jonah Coleman
- Traded for a WR (Jaylen Waddle), and have Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mimms and Troy Franklin
- Great offensive line
- Good tight end in Evan Engram
- 7-2
Jayden Daniels
- Has a bottom three coach in the NFL
- Has had two offensive coordinators in three years
- Two out of his three years, Brandon Coleman has been his starting left tackle
- NO CENTER in 2026
- Chis Paul has manned left guard for last two seasons
- Extended a 30-year-old wide receiver who has now been hurt for two straight seasons
- Signed a soon-to-be 33-year old street free agent to be WR2
- Signed Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson as free agents
- Operated for two years with a 33/34-year old has-been tight end
- Best running back is a seventh-round draft pick with fumbling issues and a guy coming off an Achillies injury in the 31-year-old Austin Ekeler
- 2-5-1
*WHICH OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER?
