The Washington Commanders were the NFL’s biggest surprise through the first half of the season. At 7-2, Washington led the NFC East before a Week 10 meeting against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Commanders had many chances to win the game but made too many mistakes, losing 28-27. The loss started a three-game losing streak that allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to take over first place in the division.
Washington snapped the three-game skid on Sunday with a dominant 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans. As the Commanders head into their bye week, they are 8-5, with four games remaining.
What’s gone right for Washington through 13 games? What’s gone wrong? Remember, the Commanders won four games last season, so there isn’t much bad to say. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have the team ahead of schedule.
It’s time to review the good, bad, and the ugly from Washington’s first 13 games.
The good
Jayden Daniels: The No. 1 takeaway from the 2024 season is the Commanders have their quarterback. There’s nothing more important than finding that guy. Washington has searched for a quarterback for years, even before Kirk Cousins’ three record-breaking seasons from 2015-17. Daniels was in the MVP conversation through the first half of the season. His worst performances came in back-to-back games against Philadelphia and Dallas, but Daniels still hasn’t looked like a rookie this season.
The leading contender for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Daniels is getting the job done with his arms and legs. He’s completing 70% of his passes and has 21 combined 21 touchdowns. The great quarterbacks make those around them better. Daniels is doing that as a rookie.
The offense as a whole: Kliff Kingsbury has pushed all the right buttons for much of the season. Washington has consistently ranked in the top five for total offense, scoring offense, and rushing offense. The offensive line was expected to be a weakness, but it has been a pleasant surprise. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is having a terrific season and has already set a new career-high for touchdown receptions. Washington’s rushing attack has thrived with a combination of Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Several individual defensive players: Washington’s defense has improved throughout the season. The Commanders still need help, but many of the new additions have proven beneficial. Linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., safety Jeremy Chinn, and rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil have all been excellent this season. After the bye, the Commanders should see cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the first time.
The bad
Run defense: The Commanders have overachieved through the first 13 games. Their pass defense is surprisingly good, considering Washington’s issues at cornerback. Part of the reason for the success against the pass is because everyone can run on the Commanders. Washington has the No. 27 run defense in the NFL, allowing 137 yards per game. Those numbers certainly do not dramatically improve in-season. If the Commanders make the playoffs as they are currently projected to do, good teams will expose their inability to stop the run.
Austin Ekeler’s concussions: In the Week 4 win at Cincinnati, Ekeler suffered a concussion. He missed the following week but returned. Unfortunately, in the Week 12 loss to Dallas, He suffered his second concussion of the season and was placed on injured reserve. Ekeler must sit out four games, making him eligible to return in Week 18. It was a scary injury for Ekeler, who offered details on his condition this week. He could miss the remainder of the season.
The ugly
Loss to Dallas: The Commanders were double-digit favorites over the Cowboys in Week 12 and got behind early before finally deciding to come alive with five minutes remaining. Then, the next few minutes of that game were the wildest of the season. After Daniels led a touchdown drive, the Commanders missed a tackle on the kickoff, allowing Kavontae Turpin to return it 98 yards for a touchdown. Washington had one last shot with 30 seconds remaining but 86 yards to go. Unbelievably, Daniels finds McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown, and kicker Austin Seibert misses the extra point. It was a disastrous loss for Washington. The Commanders made mistake after mistake and, combined with bad luck, blew a very winnable game.