Washington faced another challenging game, suffering a 13-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins while grappling with critical turnovers and execution errors. The Commanders lost the turnover battle by a 2-0 margin, with cornerback Mike Sainristil’s late muffed punt proving particularly damaging. This miscue came on the heels of an interception thrown by Marcus Mariota during Washington’s first play in overtime, which enabled Miami to secure the game-winning field goal. The team’s turnover differential for the season now stands at a concerning minus-8.
Despite the struggles in turnover management, Washington’s defense showed remarkable resilience by shutting down Miami’s potent offense during key goal-to-go situations. Before this game, the Dolphins had successfully converted all 13 of their goal-to-go opportunities into touchdowns. However, on Sunday, they were stymied on both attempts, thanks to the tenacity displayed by Commanders defenders Bobby Wagner, Javon Kinlaw, Eddie Goldman, and Frankie Luvu, who halted Miami at the 1-yard line. In a critical moment of the third quarter, Wagner’s deflection thwarted a fourth-and-goal attempt, illustrating the Commanders’ capacity to rise to the occasion even under pressure.
While the Commanders’ kicker, Matt Gay, demonstrated accuracy on shorter field goals, he struggled from longer distances, going 4 for 9 on attempts over 50 yards. A missed 56-yard field goal at the end of regulation marked a pivotal moment in the game. Gay expressed his disappointment, feeling as though he had let his team down amid a charged atmosphere at Real Madrid’s famous Bernabeu Stadium.
Washington’s offense struggled with red-zone execution, failing to convert in three attempts, which was a stark contrast to their season average of an 80 percent red-zone scoring rate. Early-game penalties, including a false start on fourth-and-two from the Miami 3, forced the team to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. Mariota acknowledged the need for improvement in this area, stating the offense has the potential to score significantly more points.
On a brighter note, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a standout performance, achieving a season-high 79 rushing yards. His contribution included several crucial runs during Washington’s lone touchdown drive, showcasing his ability to step up in challenging moments.
As the Commanders prepare for their next matchup, the lessons learned from this game could be instrumental in improving both their offensive execution and mitigating turnovers.