Tag: 2024 Commanders

Wow! Commanders romp Cardinals 42-14

Some facts and numbers from the Commanders’ win vs. Cardinals.

The Washington Commanders are atop the NFC East after four games!

Washington has won three straight games.

Tress Way has punted once in those three games.

Might the Commanders now be the difficult game on the opponent’s schedule?

Washington scored 40 points for the first time since Thanksgiving 2020 when they routed the Cowboys 41-16.

This road win was the first double-digit win since the meaningless season finale in 2022 when they beat the Cowboys 26-6.

The Commanders ran the ball 37 times for a whopping 216 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per rushing attempt.

The Commanders won the time of possession of the football with 33:22 and the Cardinals only 26:38.

Jeremy McNichols came into the game with one career touchdown. He scored two touchdowns just today, including a 27-yard run.

The Commanders’ defense, which came into the game with the worst third-down defense by far, recorded four sacks of the very mobile Kyler Murray!

Can you believe Jayden Daniels? Today, Daniels did it again, completing 26 of his 30 attempts for 233 yards, one touchdown pass and one interception.

Washington scoring 42 points was the most for this franchise since “You know who” (Al Galdi) was quarterbacking the team up and down the field in a Sunday Night win over the Green Bay Packers.

 

Kingsbury has Daniels progressing quickly through three games

The pairing of Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury has been excellent thus far.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels are working together well.

Daniels struggled in his first game at Tampa Bay, not seeing the field well and taking off to run too often. The Bucs were in a soft prevent, permitting Daniels to go 5-5 on his final possession, padding his stats, but better things were to come.

In Week 2, against the Giants, Daniels again ran too often in the first half, not seeing the field, and then he got nailed! Daniels was on the turf, having had the win knocked out of him.

The Jayden Daniels of the second half was the beginning of what we saw Monday night in Cincinnati. Daniels began to see the field better and make some downfield throws, and the Commanders never punted in a 21-18 win over the Giants.

Against the Bengals, Daniels was moving out of the pocket but now looking down field more, completing passes. In fact, he completed 21 of 23 passes, including completions of 55, 30, and 27 yards.

Kingsbury was criticized following the first game and, though less so after the second game, for his conservative passes being called repeatedly for Daniels. But Kingsbury was correct to do this because Daniels was not seeing the field well and was running too often.

Teams will not be able to sit on early routes all the time now. Daniels believes he can go deep in the NFL. The offensive line has protected well, and yes, by design Kingsbury also had drawn up max protection on the touchdown pass to McLaurin.

Kingsbury also has very well-designed screens and short passes to Austin Ekeler. But Ekeler is out with a concussion, and Kingsbury and Daniels will miss him.

So, what will Kingsbury draw up for the Commanders offense this week against the Cardinals? Will Jeremy McNichols be called upon in the passing game to help in the absence of Ekeler?

Honestly, Kingsbury has probably shown he is not going to be the issue on Sunday. The concern is going to be the Commanders’ game plan and execution of that plan on the defensive side of the ball going against Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison, and the Cardinals.

How does Jayden Daniels’ passing stats stack up against the rest of the NFL?

Looking at where Commanders QB Jayden Daniels stacks up statistically against all NFL quarterbacks.

Jayden Daniels’ Week 3 game in Cincinnati has everyone’s attention now.

Daniels set an all-time NFL high completion percentage for a rookie quarterback, completing 91.3% (21-23) against the Bengals.

What type of season is Daniels having compared with the other starting quarterbacks in the NFL? Commanders Wire takes our weekly look at the NFL passing statistics and finds Daniels trending upward after last week.

Through Week 2 Games

https://Twitter.com/NFL_DF/status/1839326488312901731

Above Average

  • Completion Percentage 1st (80.3 percent) Daniels is atop the entire NFL, displaying he is a very accurate passer and is also displaying discernment in where he passes.
  • Interceptions: 1st (0)  There are four quarterbacks who have started / played three games and have yet to throw an interception: Daniels, Joe Burrow, Jacoby Brissett, Josh Allen.
  • Passing Success Rate: 3rd  (51.8 percent). This reveals how successful a QB gains yardage needed on the four downs, divided by their passing attempts and times they are sacked. In one week he vaulted from 12th to 3rd.
  • Yards gained per pass attempt: 4th (8.7) This is most often a very important statistic in the NFL. It points to accuracy and decision making. Daniels was 10th last week.
  • Adjusted Yards gained per pass attempt: 4th (9.26) This also includes passing touchdowns and passing interceptions into the equation. Daniels moved up from 9th last week.
  • Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt: 4th (9.28) This takes the above and then accounts for passing touchdowns and interceptions.
  • Passer Rating: 4th (111.8)  Remember, Daniels has only played three NFL games.
  • Net Yards Gained per Pass Attempt: 5th (7.28)  Having only two incompletions in his 23 attempts, Daniels vaulted upward from 15th last week. This metric includes subtracting your sack yards from your completion yards.
  • QBR 7th (67.9) This ESPN stat is graded on a 100-point scale. Daniels was 20th at 46.8 just last week! What a huge jump with his spectacular game at Cincinnati.
  • Yards Gained per Completion: 11th (10.9) Completions of 55 yards (McLaurin), 30 yards (McCaffrey) and 27 yards (McLaurin) last week boosted Daniels average.
  • Passing Yards Gained per Game: 12th (221.3) Daniels was 19th last week at 205 ypg.
  • Longest completed pass 13th (55 yards). Daniels is tied with C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields. Only thrown deep a few times in three games; some of this is design as Kliff Kingsbury is attempting to protect Daniels, having him often get rid of the ball early.

The Average

  • First Downs Passing: 15th  Daniels has 31 passing first downs, tying him with Josh Allen.

Below Average

  • QB Sacked: Tied for 9th most (9) Deshaun Watson has been sacked the most (16). Brock Purdy, Jacoby Brissett and Dak Prescott have also been sacked 9 times.
  • Sack Percentage 6th highest (10.69) Daniels was 3rd highest before the Cincinnati game. He will most likely improve in this statistic throughout the season.

*16th is the exact middle of a 32-team league.

* Average: Ranking 14-18 in the NFL

* Above Average: Ranking 1-13 in the NFL

*Below Average: Ranking 19-32 in the NFL

What type of start have the Bengals had in 2024?

A closer look at the Bengals’ first two games.

So, the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2.

The Commanders (1-1) travel to Cincinnati for a MNF contest against the Bengals. It will be the first time NFL fans see Jayden Daniels in a nationally telecast game since joining the NFL.

The Bengals might be 0-2, but immediately remind yourself that their point differential is only -7. Two losses, yes, but by only 7 points.

The Bengals have played their first two games without the services and big-play potential of wide receiver Tee Higgins. This should not be overlooked, nor minimized. Higgins is a big target at 6-foot-4, 2015 pounds. In his four NFL seasons, Higgins has accumulated 257 receptions for 3,684 yards (14.3), 24 touchdowns and 185 first downs. Higgins has been sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered during the practice week before the season opener.

Averaging 5.0 yards per offensive snap, the Bengals are currently 21st in the NFL. Losing two tight games as they have, it certainly hasn’t helped that they have also lost three fumbles in the two opening games.

The possible addition of Higgins could greatly help quarterback Joe Burrow. After two games, Burrow is only averaging 200 passing yards a game, far below what he’s capable of.

Though the Bengals’ second opponent was the Chiefs, the Bengals have given up the 10th-least yards the first two weeks. They are surrendering 4.7 yards a play, which is tied for 7th best. They have also created three takeaways.

Perhaps of interest to the Commanders after Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for over 100 yards against the Giants is the fact that the Bengals are yielding 4.5 yards per rushing attempt and have surrendered 319 rushing yards, which is the seventh most in the NFL.

We could see a good dose of Robinson and Austin Ekeler. We could also see several zone-read plays, which, if the ends are crashing down to stop Robinson, could mean Jayden Daniels running the ball several times as well.

After all, running the ball keeps the clock moving and keeps the ball away from Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Gesicki, and Tee Higgins.

Commanders hoping to break some losing streaks in Week 2

Commanders hoping to end multiple losing streaks on Sunday.

It’s not only Week 2 of the 2024 season, but the Commanders have some really discouraging streaks they need to break on Sunday.

In their home opener, Washington is trying to set a new path regarding home games for the Commanders. Did you realize the Commanders have not won a home game since the 2023 home opener? It was Week 1, and the Commanders defeated the Cardinals 20-16.

Since that 2023 opening-week win, the Commanders have dropped their last seven home games. Those last seven home losses were to Buffalo 37-3, Buffalo 40-20, Philadelphia 38-31, the New York Giants 31-19, Miami 45-15, San Francisco 27-10, and Dallas 38-10.

The Commanders lost their final eight games of 2023, many by lopsided margins. Coupled with last week’s 2024 opener loss in Tampa (37-20), the Commanders have not lost nine consecutive games.

As for the Giants in particular? The Commanders have not beaten the Giants in the last four games the teams have played. In 2023, the Giants won 14-7 at home and then at FedEx 31-19. In 2022, the two teams battled to a 20-20 tie, before two weeks later, the Giants significantly reduced the Commanders’ playoff hopes with a 20-12 win at FedEx. We must return to the 2021 season finale to find the Commanders beating the Giants 22-7 at MetLife in New Jersey.

Playing their NFC East rivals in a home-and-home set of games each year, it is hard to fathom that Washington has not even beaten the Giants at home in Landover since “You know who” was quarterback in 2017. Perhaps it should not be such a surprise, seeing Washington has not posted a winning regular-season record since “You know who” was the quarterback in the 2015 and 2016 seasons (Al Galdi last season began to refer to Kirk Cousins as “You know who”).

Washington trails in the all-time series to the Giants 108-71-5.

Will QB Marcus Mariota miss the Commanders’ season opener?

Will it be Jeff Driskel serving as Jayden Daniels’ backup in Week 1?

Thursday’s Commanders’ practice had two noticeable absences.

Defensive tackle Johnny Newton did not practice, but the biggest news out of practice was that No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota also did not practice. What is most concerning is that on Wednesday, Mariota was limited in practice but did not even practice on Thursday.

It has been a strange turn of events for Mariota this preseason. He only played a series in the preseason opener against the Jets and did not play again in two preseason games. His first injury was a groin injury and we don’t know how or when, but the team has reported the last two days Mariota has a chest injury. An injury that apparently kept him out of practice on Thursday.

Newton apparently was pushed Wednesday, and the team wanted to rest him Thursday, push him again Friday, and then evaluate whether he is ready for the opener. But Mariota’s inability to practice raises questions about whether he will be inactive on Sunday. If so, the team would have their third quarterback, Jeff Driskel, active as the backup to starter Jayden Daniels.

 

2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at quarterback?

Previewing the quarterback position for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Jayden Daniels called an audible, overruling the play (screen), which had come in from the sidelines.

It was his first third down in the first series of his first preseason game. He instead called for an empty backfield with all five receivers running a vertical route. Daniels then looked the safety off to the left side of the field, eliminating his help against Dyami Brown. Daniels then fired deep to Brown for a 42-yard gain.

On a third-and-long against the Dolphins, Daniels simply took what the defense gave him. He took the check down, gained good yardage, and made the field goal attempt much closer. The Commanders have to be thrilled with Daniels’ progress thus far.

Of course, there will be struggles; he is a rookie. His extremely lean frame will continue to be a concern. With his quickness and speed, Kliff Kingsbury will want to run some zone-read options each game. Therefore, Daniels will need to get down and avoid hits often.

Marcus Mariota has been one Daniels says he is leaning on heavily. Coaches have said he has accepted his role very well and is supportive of Daniels. Mariota has walked in Daniels’ shoes. He is good to have in Daniels’ ear each day and each game.

On the other hand, Mariota is now dealing with his second injury of the preseason. First, it was a groin, now a chest injury. The plan was that Mariota would be the only other quarterback on the roster, but what little action he saw wasn’t good, and with another injury, one can’t help but wonder if the Commanders might actually have Mariota “inactive” for the opener.

Which leads to Jeff Driskel. Driskel received many more snaps in the preseason and produced several nice plays. As a result, the decision was made to keep Driskel on the roster as the third quarterback. If Mariota is not ready for the opener, they will be glad Driskel is available.

Sam Hartman injured a shoulder in the first preseason game against the Jets and did not see action in the final two preseason games. He was waived, then brought back and signed to the practice squad.

2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at running back?

We preview Washington’s running backs ahead of the 2024 season.

So, how well will the Commanders run the ball in 2024?

Running the ball was not something the Commanders did much in 2023. Then offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was determined to show everyone his passing offense that the Commanders were No. 1 in dropbacks with 736. To make things worse, Bieniemy used the lowest play-action rate in the NFL (32nd).

New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is often associated with the Air Raid offense. But history has shown Kingsbury more balanced, forcing the defense to play both run and pass.

Consequently, the Commanders’ running game is much more prominent in the plans for 2024. Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols can plan on carrying the ball.

Perhaps the most interesting player to be carrying the ball often in 2024 might be quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels is very swift on his feet, so look for Kingsbury to have the Commanders run some zone-read options in the opener in Tampa.

Robinson will be the starter, and if he remains healthy, expect him to get over 200 carries. The former Alabama back has shown himself to be durable, physical and dependable.

Ekeler will spell Robinson at times and primarily be a third-down back. He is effective catching the ball out of the backfield and has enjoyed two huge seasons. In 2019, he caught 92 passes, and in 2022, he collected 107.

Ekeler was injured last season, which contributed to his lower numbers. His critics also say he lost a step, which contributed to his decline in production. The Commanders hope his decline was due to his ankle injury in 2023.

McNichols (age 28) came to Washington from San Francisco last season, where Adam Peters was the assistant general manager. In the preseason, McNichols displayed his ability to produce as both a runner and receiver.

Michael Wiley, Chris Rodriguez, and Kazmeir Allen are on the Practice Squad and ready for action should injuries hurt the Commanders’ running backs this season. Wiley and Rodriguez can both be physical runners, while Allen is quick and best in the open field.

Commanders’ Adam Peters: ‘I couldn’t be more excited’

Adam Peters explains why he’s excited about 2024.

Are you ready for some football?

Commanders new general manager Adam Peters is ready for some football.

He told “Grant & Danny” of 106.7 The Fan on Thursday, “I couldn’t be more excited,” said Peters. “I can’t believe it. It just felt like the blink of an eye that we’re here now.”

Peters said he was even talking on the practice field last week with some of the Commanders coaches about how fast this offseason and preseason have gone, and they will be in Tampa soon for the season opener.

“I am the most excited, but I think our fans should really, really be excited about this next week and what’s to come with this team…I am excited about our offense with Kliff, and the way he runs it, and the guys that are executing it. It’s going to be a really fun offense to watch. It’s going to be a fast offense. It’s going to put defenses in a bind with what we do.”

The Commanders gave up the most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season and surrendered the most points. But with all of the additions and subtractions Peters has made, he also feels better about the defense.

“I really love how fast and physical the guys are playing, the mindset of the guys and the leadership of that side of the ball too. So I’m honestly just really excited about how we played and how we’re going to play in the style of how we play.”

Now, of course, that is coming from a general manager who is comparing last year’s team and how they played to what he has assembled in his first offseason with the team. He is not attempting to persuade the fan base that the Commanders are going to the Super Bowl this year.

Yet, looking at all his hard work and the hard work of Dan Quinn, his staff, and the players, Adam Peters is excited that this team is trending upward for this season.

Commanders’ GM Adam Peters: ‘We are trying to win now’

Peters talked about the Dotson trade and trading to teams within the division.

George Allen came to Washington in 1971, became the head coach and general manager, and proclaimed, “The future is now.”

Adam Peters boarded the Washington NFL ship in 2024, and he again told Grant & Danny (106.7 the Fan) Thursday, “It’s not a rebuild; it’s a recalibration.”

This being his first time as a team’s general manager, Peters expressed to Grant and Danny, “We are trying to win right now. We do have goals to be really good this season.”

In recent history, the NFL has had a team each season rebound really well from a really down year the previous season. Last season, it was the Houston Texans, who had been 3-13-1 in 2022 and fired Lovie Smith. They hired Demeco Ryans, drafted C.J. Stroud, and finished 10-7 atop the AFC South in 2023.

Peters feels the responsibility on his shoulders to get the Commanders turned around in 2023 after not having a winning regular season since Kirk Cousins was the quarterback in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1). “It is my job as a general manager and really in conjunction with DQ  (Dan Quinn), and we make every decision together, is to be good now and to build for a sustainable team for the future, a team you guys will see compete for championships every year.”

It’s a delicate balance, but Peters and Quinn are attempting to make decisions not simplistically based on winning now or winning in the future. They seek to embrace both—getting better for 2024 and beyond.

As for why he traded receiver Jahan Dotson to division rival Philadelphia, Peters expressed, “That was clearly the best offer. A tie is going to go to the team outside the division. But there’s not always going to be a tie. In this case, they (Eagles) were very bullish on Jahan, and rightfully so. But every time, it is going to be different. If it’s the Cowboys and the Steelers, and everything is the same, and we are making a trade, it’s probably going to go to Pittsburgh.”