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Heading into Week 5, the Washington Commanders sat alone atop the NFC East while riding a three-game winning streak. Just how good have the Commanders been during their three previous contests? Jayden Daniels and company averaged more than 33 points per game while punter Tress Way was asked to do his job just once. Not that long ago Way was likely the franchise’s best player (depressing, right?) Now, his image is on the side of milk cartons.

Speaking of Daniels, a month into his professional career, the electric rookie has been even better than advertised — completing an obscene 82.1 percent of his passes, with 897 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He’s also rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns, with 18 of his 46 runs resulting in a first down. Oh, and through four games, Daniels had more scoring drives (23) than incomplete passes (19).

Against Cleveland, the Commanders’ offense got off to a slower start than usual — but still led by 24-3 at the half. That’s in large part to the defense, which finally had a game to remember. A Washington defense that had just eight sacks through four games exploded for seven sacks against the Browns. Deshaun Watson was limited to just 125 yards, as Cleveland converted just one of 13 third downs on the day.

Linebackers Frankie Luvu (2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery) and Bobby Wagner (1.5 sacks and forced fumble) were everywhere as they disrupted everything the Browns tried to throw at them. Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis had his best game as a pro, causing mayhem in the backfield and looking completely rejuvenated in the process. With the defense playing well, it bought the offense enough time to get things rolling. By the fourth quarter, Daniels was removed from the blowout as Marcus Mariota and the backups ran down the clock.

Led by Daniels, Washington has won consecutive games by 20 or more points for the first time since 1997 and has the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, at 31 points per game. The Heisman trophy winner is also the first player in NFL history to put up 1,000 passing yards and 250 rushing yards through the first five games of his career. The Commanders are 4-1 for the first time since 2008 and head into a highly anticipated matchup with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens.

Style points — not to mention extra points — were at a premium when the Washington Commanders and New York Giants squared off in an early-season NFC East matchup.

Commanders running back Austin Ekeler took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown … only for the play to be nullified by a holding penalty. While the touchdown didn’t ultimately count, the sequence was hugely impactful because Giants kicker Graham Gano pulled his hamstring in pursuit of Ekeler and left New York without a kicker.

On the other sideline, many Commanders players were still learning their new kicker’s name. Fortunately for them, Austin Seibert set a franchise record with seven made field goals, giving him more converted field goals than days with the team (six). Seibert’s memorable debut lifted Washington to a 21-18 victory at the newly named Northwest Stadium, giving both head coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels their first win in burgundy and gold.

Washington came into the game on a league-worst seven-game home losing streak and had lost their last nine games overall. Had the kicker situations for both franchises not been so extreme, the Commanders might still be searching for their first win of the 2024 season. But, as they say, an ugly win is still a win. The Giants now earn the distinction of becoming just the second team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, not allow a touchdown and still find a way to lose the game.

The Commanders finished the day with 425 yards of offense, but five false-start penalties in six red zone possessions forced the team to continually settle for field goal attempts instead of touchdowns. Daniels completed 23 of 29 attempts for 226 and picked up 44 yards on 10 carries. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. set a career high with 133 rushing yards on 17 carries. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste created the game’s only turnover with a well-timed punch to dislodge the ball from Giants running back Devin Singletary. Aside from holding on field goal attempts, punter Tress Way had the day off — with zero punts on the day.

The future of the Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots hinges on how successful LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye turn out to be at the NFL’s most important position. If each of the rookie quarterbacks can find sustained success, both middling franchises could be in for better days.

Those conversation, of course, are for another day. On this one, Daniels suited up for warmups, but not the game itself. Maye did play, but struggled in the face of consistent pressure. With botched snaps and a few errant pass attempts, Maye looked decidely mortal while completing 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in a 20-10 loss. New England’s offense was also penalized eight times during the first half for false start, holding or illegal formation, which obviously didn’t help the rookie’s cause.

With Daniels (along with 33 other Commanders players) sitting out, quarterback Trace McSorley was provided an opportunity to impress head coach Dan Quinn and his staff. McSorley completed 12 of 21 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in an otherwise forgettable evening affair.

While few recognizable names participated in this exhibition matchup, maybe that’s not a bad thing. Washington hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005 or finished with a winning record since 2016. Maybe some serious housecleaning is in need by new general manager Adam Peters to rid the franchise of the stink of the previous regime’s constant shortcomings and failures. Maybe Quinn and friends will look back at this slog of a home preseason game and realize this was the night they identified an important piece of the puzzle. Or maybe, just maybe, it will be immediately forgotten and never spoken of again. Either way, bring on the regular season.

While there were certainly twists and turns in the road, anyone truly surprised with how the story played out wasn’t paying attention.

At his introductory news conference last month, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters flat-out said the franchise’s next head coach wouldn’t be limited to an offensive- or defensive-minded specialist, but rather “the best leader for this organization.” Apparently, a large chunk of the fanbase either didn’t get the memo or willfully chose to ignore this message.

While many (myself included) clamored for a young, innovative coaching candidate such as Detroit’s Ben Johnson or Baltimore’s Mike Macdonald, these words from Peters should have been a strong indicator of just how seriously Dan Quinn was being considered. And look, I get it, Quinn is the human equivalent of wool pajamas. There’s nothing sexy about this hiring. But he might end up being exactly what the franchise needs at this time.

Quinn is not the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan. But he is universally respected by damn-near every person he has worked with during his extensive NFL coaching career. And the 53-year-old has been preparing for this possibility since he was fired five games into his sixth season as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.

“When I left Atlanta, it was during the middle of the season,” said Quinn. “And so, you have time to reflect. It’s lonely, it’s disappointing, it’s depressing. But you don’t want to just rinse and repeat. You want to make sure: How do I take this, change it and then make sure you get to prove it again? And so that was the silver lining in this. I’m a better version of me today than I was three, four or five years ago.”

In addition to Quinn, Washington announced the hiring of Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator and Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator. Kingsbury has a proven track record of working with young, talented quarterbacks — including Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, Kyler Murray in Arizona and Caleb Williams at USC. This addition makes a ton of sense for the Commanders, who have the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and six selections in the top 102.

On that note, if Washington is convinced that Williams is the best possible quarterback available and is willing to give up the necessary draft capital to land him, they can at least take solace in knowing that their franchise quarterback and offensive coordinator will be on the same page from the jump. But if they ultimately stay at No. 2 and select North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, their rookie quarterback will still be in capable hands.

Fun, but ultimately random fact: Kingsbury was New England’s sixth-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. That same season, Peters began his NFL career with the Patriots as an assistant scout.

Whitt Jr. comes from Dallas where he worked alongside Quinn as a secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator. For three seasons, the dynamic duo were typically found in close proximity in the coach’s booth during a game. As a Dallas defender causes a turnover, Quinn usually brought big energy and ample enthusiasm while Whitt Jr. was much more stoic and subdued. While Quinn was fist-pumping and high-fiving, Whitt Jr. had his head down, already focused on the next play. These two know each other well and complement one another nicely.

Also worth noting: Since taking over the Dallas secondary in ’21, Whitt’s unit led the league with 59 interceptions. Last season, Dallas’ pass defense ranked fifth in passing yards allowed per game (187.4) and recorded 17 interceptions, tied for eighth most in the NFL. Some suggested Whitt Jr. could become the new Dallas defensive coordinator if Quinn was hired elsewhere this offseason, but that obviously didn’t happen.

Instead, the duo arrives in the nation’s capital with hopes of restoring glory to a once-proud franchise. It won’t be easy, but they’re looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m going to give myself a little grace and allow one swear word here because I’ve done a pretty good job so far,” Quinn said. “I haven’t had any, and I swear a lot. But there is nothing I enjoy more than doing hard shit with good people.”

When the Washington Commanders held a press conference for new general manager Adam Peters, I had to be there. That’s because the occasion marked a significant moment in the franchise’s history and is the beginning stage of what will hopefully be known as the “Era of Competence.”

The last time Washington had a legitimate general manager acting and operating in that role was from 1989-99, when Charley Casserly called the shots. And the last time a legitimate general manager was involved in the hiring of a head coach in this town was in ’94 when Norv Turner was tabbed. Simply put, if you’re under the age of 30, you’ve never witnessed anything like this.

Once Daniel Snyder sold the franchise to Josh Harris and friends, locals hoped and dreamed of better days, but the impact of landing the hottest and most sought-after candidate on the market cannot be overstated. The torturous days of a meddlesome owner playing fantasy football are mercifully gone. Now, qualified football people will be dictating the direction of the once-proud franchise.

Regardless of whether Peters ultimately selects Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (one of the brightest young minds in the game), Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald (an intriguing candidate who has spearheaded several impressive showings this season) or someone else as the new head coach (Dan Quinn? Raheem Morris?), there’s little reason to believe they’ll be forced to settle for a punchline like Steve Spurrier, Jim Zorn or Jay Gruden to lead the locker room.

The phrase that pays in Ashburn these days is “aligned vision.” And look, a coherent structure where ownership, the general manager and head coach are all on the same page might not be earth shattering elsewhere, but it’s radically different from the last two decades of dysfunction in our nation’s capital. Congrats to all who survived the days of overpaying over-the-hill free agents and/or forcing talent evaluators to burn a first-round draft pick on a kid because he went to the same high school as your child. May we never speak of them again.

In the not-too-distant future, attention will turn to April’s NFL Draft, where the Commanders hold the second overall pick. Peters, his staff and hand-picked coach, will identify which player best fits with their new brand of football. Will they turn to LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels? Or possibly North Carolina’s Drake Maye? Or does draft day end with USC’s Caleb Williams somehow becoming the new face of the franchise? Whichever direction they go one thing is certain — competent and qualified individuals are making the impactful decisions.

In my 19 seasons covering the team, the Redskins/Football Team/Commanders have made the playoffs just five times while finishing with double digit losses in nine seasons. In fact, 2012 and 2005 are the only two seasons over that span where Washington won 10 games. Nothing guarantees that the 2024 season will play out any differently, but for the first time since Robert Griffin III had two working knees, there is legitimate cause for optimism.

Coming into Thursday Night Football, the Chicago Bears were just 3-18 since last season began and the first team in NFL history to allow 25 or more points in 14 straight games. In fact, nearly a calendar year had come and gone since Chicago’s last victory. Compounding matter for Chicago, three of their preferred four secondary members were injured and the Bears were forced to protect quarterback Justin Fields with their third-string left tackle. And yet, none of it mattered.

The Bears roared out of the gates, jumping out to a 24-point lead before halftime to earn their first win in 347 days. Receiver D.J. Moore had four receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown … in the first quarter alone, and finished the night with eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns. The man was so unstoppable that rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was benched during the second half, but he was far from the only Washington defender who struggled in this game or during the season at large. The Commanders defense has now allowed an average of 352 yards and 30 points per game this season, which is unacceptable for a unit with such a substantial investment — both monitarily and in draft capital.

Things weren’t any better on the other side of the house either. The game got out of hand so quickly that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy abandoned the running game entirely — quarterback Sam Howell was Washington’s leading rusher with four carries for 19 yards — turning his unit into an entirely one dimensonial and predictable. Washington dropped back to pass an astounding 55 consecutive times against the Bears, who registered five sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

“Tonight the Commanders played with no intensity or fire,” said Magic Johnson, on social media after the humbling loss. “We didn’t compete in the first half and got down 27-3 heading into halftime. It was too big of a hole to climb out of, and that is why we ended up losing 40-20.”

Washington has lost their last two home games by a combined 54 points, which is an excellent way to squander any good will and/or optimism the fanbase had when the new ownership group took over this past offseason.

By all accounts, the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles appear to be two of the top five teams in the league this season. Both franchises have aspirations of playing for championships with stacked rosters on both sides of the ball.

The Washington Commanders, of course, are nowhere near the NFL’s top five. They remain a work-in-progress with far more questions than answers but are at least trending in a positive direction. Top-tier opposition, like Buffalo and Philadelphia, provides a welcome measuring stick to see where the burgundy and gold stack up about a quarter of the way through the season.

During Week 3, the offense was woefully prepared for the onslaught of havoc the Bills wreaked in the backfield. Sam Howell was pressured on 69 percent of his drop backs and sacked nine times. The offense responded by turning the ball over five times and went just one for nine on third downs, neither of which is conducive to winning football games. 

One week later, the Commanders fared much better against the Eagles. Rather than abandoning the ground game early on, Washington adopted a much more balanced approach. And on passing downs, Eric Bieniemy smartly opted to get the ball out of his young quarterback’s hands much quicker — making Sam Howell less of a sitting target against a talented Eagles’ defensive front. Staying committed to the running game, as well as three-step drops and some occasional rollouts made it harder for Philadelphia to get their hands on the North Carolina product.

Howell is still on pace to be sacked 102 times this season, which would shatter the previous record of 76, but the offense found itself in a groove early and led 17-7 with less than two minutes to go before halftime. The Commanders’ problems in Week 4, came on the other side of the ball. 

Eagles receiver A.J. Brown finished the day with nine catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns, most of which came at the expense of Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. For the most part, the rest of Philadelphia’s explosive weapons were held largely in check. But while it might be easy to chalk up the loss to a rookie’s struggles, that stance misses the larger picture.

Washington’s defense, which coming into the season was clearly viewed as the strength of the franchise, has given up 30 points or more in three straight contests, with opposing teams combining for 120 points through four games. That’s not nearly good enough.