The Washington Commanders faced a challenging game against the Baltimore Ravens, revealing vulnerabilities in their defense as the Ravens dominated offensively. Despite the loss, Dan Quinn’s defense showcased resilience, managing to score points against one of the NFL’s top defensive teams.
This matchup highlighted a couple of key takeaways: first, the Commanders can be competitive with quarterback Jayden Daniels leading; second, the team still has significant ground to cover before being regarded as one of the elite teams in the league.
Here are the highlights and lowlights from the game:
Studs:
Jayden Daniels had a commendable performance against a formidable defense, completing 24 of 35 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 22 yards. Though he had a close call with a potential interception, his overall play kept the Commanders in contention.
Terry McLaurin was a standout receiver, leading the team with six catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive fourth down touchdown reception.
Mike Sainristil made his mark during the game, displaying solid coverage skills and delivering physical tackles. He secured his first career interception in the first quarter, standing out on a day when the secondary struggled.
Dante Fowler was another bright spot, generating pressure with four tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss.
Duds:
Benjamin St-Juste had a rough game, suffering from penalties and allowing several easy completions to opposing receivers, failing to replicate his previous strong performances.
Daron Payne did not register any significant stats, fading into the background as his defensive colleagues made an impact.
Andrew Wylie struggled on the offensive line, surrendering a sack, facing multiple pressures, and committing two penalties.
Emmanuel Forbes, despite not being on the field, has become a surprising point of criticism, reflecting poorly on his current status within the team.
Tony Romo, providing commentary during the game, faced backlash for focusing on the teleprompter during live plays, which frustrated viewers.
Notes:
Frankie Luvu’s performance was underwhelming compared to his previous outing, contributing little to pass rushing and lacking in coverage and tackling.
The Commanders’ safety play remained lackluster, with a call for more impact plays in the passing game.
Noah Igbinoghene showed some effort despite not having a standout performance, managing to hustle on most plays.
Brandon Coleman displayed both strengths and weaknesses, allowing pressure and a sack during crucial moments, yet also demonstrating solid footwork and athleticism at times.