All posts in football

By opening the season with losses at Philadelphia and Dallas, the Washington Commanders knew they couldn’t afford to lose another pivotal divisional match-up against the New York Giants. Starting the season 0-3 in the NFC East would almost assuredly kill any postseason hopes before they even began, which elevated the stakes of this Week 5 rivalry game.

Inexplicably, in what some pundits called a “must-win” game during the opening month of the season, the Commanders tied New York, 27-27, on a soggy, dreary afternoon.

Washington led by 14 points with roughly eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but faltered late — allowing a pair of touchdown drives that knotted the score and sent the game into overtime.

In a bizarre play that will be repeated on a nightmarish loop for the foreseeable future, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels snap the ball with 12 seconds remaining in overtime, scramble around a bit, then dove to the ground. The Commanders had the ball at New York’s 24-yard line, so they already were in comfortable range for a game-winning field goal attempt. But with no timeouts remaining, the Commanders were powerless to stop the clock as the final seconds ticked off. To say the home team let a winnable game slip through their fingers would be an understatement. 

“I wanted to get off the field before they could take it away from us,” joked Giants head coach John Harbaugh.

With less than two minutes remaining in overtime, Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne stripped running back Cam Skattebo, and the fumble was recovered by defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Daniels and the offensive then took the field and looked calm and composed marching into scoring position … until everyone involved suffered a shared mental breakdown during the final 50 seconds of overtime. 

Before then, Daniels looked superb in his return to action after a two-game absence due to a dislocated left elbow. The former Heisman Trophy winner completed 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 103 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Offensively, New York compiled just 77 yards at halftime but finished the day with 408 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jameis Winston completed 33 of 54 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Defensive players and coaches won’t be eager to watch the second half footage though, after they allowed Winston to rack up 26 of 38 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns after halftime.

Winston didn’t even have to spread the ball around to compile such stats. He did so by repeatedly throwing to the same two targets. Tight end Isaiah Likely hauled in 11 catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Malik Nabers secured 11 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Because the NFL desperately wants the rest of the world to care about America’s favorite sport, the 1-2 Washington Commanders were exported to London to host the 1-2 Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

Prior to kickoff, more than a few critics suggested showcasing two struggling franchises abroad isn’t exactly putting the league’s best foot forward. Fortunately, underwhelming football has been a staple at Spurs’ state-of-the-art stadium since it opened in 2019, so the 60,000 fans in attendance still managed to enjoy themselves as the Colts defeated the Commanders, 30-13. 

Two of the most challenging obstacles to overcome in football are injuries and penalties. One month into the season, the Commanders continue to be decimated by both.

Washington, back in London for the first time since 2016, struggled mightily to put points on the board due to its depleted offense. Franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels made the trip to England, but remained sidelined while recovering from a dislocated elbow. Backup Marcus Mariota started in his place, but suffered a sprained MCL during the first quarter, leaving Washington painfully thin at the game’s most important position.

In addition to both quarterbacks, head coach Dan Quinn was also without the services of left tackle Laremy Tunsil (torn triceps), right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion), receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring injury) and running back Rachaad White (shoulder injury). The injury list was so significant, the broadcast announced that the team’s emergency quarterback was apparently fourth-string tight end Colson Yankoff. Mercifully, he was not asked to line up behind center on this day. 

Enter seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, out of Rutgers, who showed flashes of promise but ultimately led the Commanders to just one scoring drive — a 47-yard touchdown to wideout Treylon Burks.. The rookie affectionately known as the “Baklava Bomber” attempted a league-high six passes of 30 yards or more, and connected on a pair of them. Washington had another potentially explosive play, an 87-yard touchdown catch by rookie wideout Antonio Williams, nullified because of an illegal shift penalty. 

While that penalty was the most noteworthy, the Commanders were ultimately called for 10 infractions for 84 yards. All three phases of the game were affected too, with special teams called for four different penalties on the day. Had the burgundy and gold been more disciplined, this game was clearly there for the taking.

Especially considering the Colts offense started the game with a fumble, three punts and an interception. Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones completed 19 of 34 attempts for just 143 passing yards, with two turnovers. In short, he was terrible for most of the afternoon. 

Unfortunately for Washington, running back Jonathan Taylor more than made up the difference for Jones’ lack of production. The All-Pro back carried the ball 20 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Seattle Seahawks entered the game riding a franchise-best 12-game winning streak. The Washington Commanders, meanwhile, had lost 12 of their last 14 games and were without eight starters — including franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. So naturally, despite being a touchdown underdog at home, the Commanders shocked the reigning Super Bowl champions, 33-31.

To say this was the biggest upset of the young season would be an understatement. The Commanders defeated the Seahawks despite losing the first down battle 28-17 while being outgained 437-to-258 in total yards. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, who entered the game with a 28-6 record since the start of the 2024 season, threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns earning a 105.7 quarterback rating for the day. Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who currently ranks as the best receiver in football, finished the day with 10 catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns, making him just the second wideout in NFL history to start a season with three consecutive games with at least 120 yards and one touchdown. (Jerry Rice in 1989 is the other.)

So how the hell did the Commanders actually win this game? By winning the turnover battle, three to none. A defense that created just 10 turnovers all last season, managed to intercept Darnold twice and forced one fumble allowing Washington’s patchwork offense to take advantage. Backup Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes for the first time since 2022 while completing 19 passes to nine different receivers, with touchdowns to running back Rachaad White, receiver Treylon Burks and wideout Terry McLaurin. Fan favorite McLaurin had an impactful afternoon, hauling in six catches for 77 yards — including a 30-yard touchdown grab in the second half that felt like a massive momentum shift in the moment.

Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a 48-yard TD run called back when rookie Antonio Williams (who also dropped a bomb) did not close the formation by stepping up a foot at the line of scrimmage after Bill motioned back into the backfield. On another day, an avoidable penalty like this could have easily been more costly for the Commanders. Fortunately, the defense made enough plays to steal the win.

Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who Washington selected with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, had his most impactful day as a pro. Early in the contest, the Ohio State standout forced a Jadarian Price fumble, resulting in the defense’s first takeaway of the season. Styles then intercepted a tipped Darnold pass for the unit’s second turnover of the day. Amazingly, neither of those turnovers can be considered Styles’ biggest play of the day. With less than four minutes left in the game, Commanders linebacker Kain Medrano intercepted Darnold for a 50-yard pick six that effectively sealed the game for the burgundy and gold. After the game, Medrano shared that he was in position to make the play thanks to pre-snap adjustments made by Styles.

Once upon a time, the NFL’s preseason mattered. At least a little bit. Coaches and players viewed these exhibitions games as a valuable opportunity to work out the kinks in preparation for Week 1.

In 2026, franchises are much more risk adverse, opting to sit as many key contributors as possible in hopes of avoiding serious injuries to key personnel. Why even allow franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels to play a single snap during the preseason, even if he missed the majority of the 2025 season due to a series of injuries and could almost certainly use the game time to grasp a better understanding of the team’s new offensive system?

These days, joint practices provide the only real chances for someone like Daniels to work through the inevitable rust that comes from a lengthy absence. Preseason games have been all but relegated to glorified exhibitions where rookies make their debut and the last few roster spots are earned. 

The new-look Miami Dolphins, led by quarterback Malik Willis, apparently didn’t get the memo and happily trotted out their starters for their preseason opener against the Commanders. Willis and friends opened the game with an impressive 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive — punctuated by a De’Von Achane 1-yard touchdown run — and were then promptly removed from the game.

With Daniels in street clothes, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota started the game for Washington. He lasted just four plays. 

On his third play, Mariota took a hit from Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson after completing a 22-yard pass to receiver Dyami Brown. One play later, the 32-year-old went down with an apparent leg injury on a non-contact play after handing off the ball to rookie back Kaytron Allen. This worst-case scenario is clearly why head coach Dan Quinn opted to not play Daniels and and two dozen other healthy players.

Seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis, a raw rookie out of Rutgers, split the game’s remaining snaps with Sam Hartman. Kaliakmanis completed six of 10 passes for 87 yards with a 88.3 quarterback rating. Hartman, meanwhile, struggled with accuracy as he completed eight of 15 passes for 80 yards with an interception.

On the ground, Allen and fellow rookie Robert Henry Jr., each had a productive day. The dynamic duo combined for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries.

After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, Washington’s defense did improve — picking off three passes. Safety Quan Martin, linebacker Ale Kaho and safety Malik Spencer each intercepted a wayward pass attempt in the 20-7 victory.

For nearly an entire year, the Washington Commanders could do no wrong. Last-second wins became the norm as the Cinderella Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, came one game away from the Super Bowl. If last season’s showing was made for Hollywood, this season has been defined by Murphy’s Law — anything that can go wrong, will gone wrong.

Injuries and inconsistencies have doomed Washington all season long, crushing the feel-good vibes that once surrounded the franchise. Franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels has struggled to remain healthy while the defense has struggled to … well … defend. While Washington looked good, at times, against one of the AFC’s top teams, the results remain frustratingly the same.

On the game’s deciding play, Denver star linebacker Nik Bonitto batted away Marcus Mariota’s pass attempt on a two-point conversion to escape with a 27-26 victory.

Quarterback Bo Nix threw for 321 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the win, as the 10-2 Broncos won their eighth one-score game of the season. The Commanders, meanwhile, are mired in a seven-game losing streak.

Mariota threw for 294 yards, with two touchdowns, one interception and the failed two-point conversion attempt. Tight end Zach Ertz had 10 receptions for 106 yards and receiver Terry McLaurin added seven catches for 96 yards.

Washington’s defense showed signs of competence after head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., but that’s admittedly a low bar. While the Hogs represented one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, this could very well be “lipstick on a pig” territory until an offseason overhaul can be achieved.

Many fans of the Washington Commanders had been waiting for this game since the 2025 schedule was released. With the franchise honoring an all-time great and the debut of their Super Bowl era throwback uniforms, the excitement was palpable at Northwest Stadium before kickoff.

Hall of Famer Art Monk had his No. 81 jersey number officially retired during a touching halftime ceremony. Unfortunately, everything else that transpired during Washington’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football was a complete and utter disaster.

Seattle, led quarterback Sam Darnold (who threw four first-half touchdown passes), receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who caught eight passes on nine targets for 129 yards) and an aggressive defense humbled the Commanders in all three phases of the game while cruising to a resounding 38-14 victory.

Darnold didn’t have a single incompletion during the first half, completing all 13 attempts for 229 yards and four touchdowns. With the win already secured by halftime, Darnold took it easy on Washington’s pitiful defense in the second half — but still finished the game 21 of 24 for 330 yards, with more touchdown passes (four) than incompletions (three) and a 141.0 rating. Additionally, five Seahawks pass catchers averaged at least 12 yards per reception on a night where Washington’s defense was overmatched from the jump.

The Seahawks defense was equally as impressive, pressuring Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels on 51 percent of his dropbacks (the most of his young career). Seattle harassed the Heisman Trophy winner all game long, collecting 14 hits, four sacks and an interception. Because the Commanders’ offensive weapons are unable to create any separation, defenses continue to stack the box with no fear of getting beat deep by Washington’s receivers. This translated into Daniels scrambling for his life early and often during the blowout. And then, an ugly outing turned into the worst-case scenario for the home team.

Trailing 38-7 with less than eight minutes to play, Daniels dislocated his left elbow when he landed awkwardly after being tackled by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas. The 2024 Rookie of the Year has already missed three starts this season due to knee and hamstring injuries, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the next time Daniels suits up for Washington is Week 1 of the ’26 season.

The Commanders have been decimated by injuries and inconsistent play this season. In addition to Daniels’ gruesome injury, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and receiver Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) appear to have suffered season-ending injuries against Seattle.

After committing his third hip-drop tackle of the season, linebacker Frankie Luvu has been suspended by the NFL for one game and will sit out the Detroit Lions game as the 3-6 Commanders look to salvage a once-promising campaign.

Last season was a magical ride for the Washington Commanders. An overhauled front office paired with an aggressive-minded coaching staff and a generational talent at the game’s most important position created the perfect storm of good vibes and excitement.

Franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels turned in one of the greatest rookie campaigns ever and the downtrodden Commanders were an overnight sensation — going 12-5 while winning winning on the final play of the game on a seemingly weekly basis. Playing in the conference championship game in the first year of a franchise overhaul was an incredible overachievement and a lasting memory for the fanbase.

Fast forward to this season and it’s been a very different story. Injuries and inconsistencies have decimated the Commanders during the first half of the 2025 season. Daniels and several other key contributors — Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown, Austin Ekeler, etc. — have struggled to stay health. Additionally, the schedule is significantly more difficult this season and the defense has been brutal, at times. If last season was a dream, then the sequel has been a nightmare.

“The only thing consistent right now has been our inconsistency,” said head coach Dan Quinn.

All of this further proves how remarkably consistent the Kansas City Chiefs have been under head coach Andy Reid. It seems like only yesterday the Chiefs were 0-2 and folks were eager to write them off. But Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are first ballot Hall of Famers still capable of taking over a game whenever needed, and suddenly the Chiefs once again look like a juggernaut. As always, any hope of becoming the NFL’s next dynasty has to go through Kansas City. In the immortal words of Ric Flair, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.”

After playing with their food for the majority of the first half, the Chiefs got serious after halftime and made short work of their overmatched opponent. Mahomes put together three consecutive touchdown drives to start the second half in a relatively straightforward 28-7 victory over the Commanders. Those three scoring drives went for 80, 75 and 94 yards as Mahomes was able to extend plays and consistently deliver off script against a fatally-flawed Commanders defense.

With Marcus Mariota starting for an injured Jayden Daniels, Washington struggled to generate offense. Not that veteran quarterback was to blame for the lack of production. The ground game once again struggled. The passing game continued to lack explosive plays. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense is no longer able to stretch the field or keep defenses from stacking the box. Had receiver Terry McLaurin not make two incredibly impressive catches, Washington’s offense would have had no highlights to speak of.

Speaking of McLaurin, the Ohio State product caught three of four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown before aggravating his quad injury once again. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil also exited the game early, thanks to a hamstring injury.

Washington has now lost four of the last five games and, at 3-5, need to steady the ship as quickly as possible if they hope to remain competitive in the crowded NFC playoff hunt. To do so, they will need to overcome a slew of injuries and the second toughest remaining schedule in the league.