LANDOVER, Md. — Head coach Dan Quinn is aware that his standout rookie, Jayden Daniels, along with the Washington Commanders, faces a tight timeline to rectify the issues that arose during their narrow one-point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Commanders are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a crucial NFC East matchup on Thursday.
Quinn finds some comfort in the fact that the problems are not extensive, and his team, with a 7-3 record, generally requires little guidance. “If we had a long list of problems that needed attention, I’d be more anxious,” Quinn stated after analyzing the game footage of the Commanders’ 28-27 defeat against the Steelers. “Most of the players are capable of identifying what needs correction even before I bring it up. This shows that we’re far from needing to be told basic things. Our players are mature.”
The players themselves do not seem concerned about the quick turnaround to face the Eagles, who are currently 7-2 and leading the division. “Having a short week gives us the opportunity to prove ourselves again,” said defensive end Clelin Ferrell, expressing optimism ahead of the game.
Regarding the performance on the field, the Commanders, particularly under Daniels’s leadership, continue to put up impressive numbers offensively, even against tough defenses such as Pittsburgh’s, which had only allowed an average of 14.9 points per game. Daniels is also forming a strong connection with receiver Terry McLaurin, who recorded over 100 receiving yards for the fourth time in eight games, finishing with a total of 113 yards on five receptions. The most significant setback during the game occurred on Washington’s last possession when they couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-9 play; Daniels’s pass to Zach Ertz was ruled short of the necessary yardage. Quinn mentioned that they would be discussing the situation with NFL officials for clarification.
On a side note, the organization is acutely aware of its vulnerabilities, particularly in the secondary. This awareness was evident when general manager Adam Peters traded for seasoned cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a multiple Pro Bowl selection from the New Orleans Saints. Lattimore was absent from Sunday’s match due to a lingering hamstring injury, leaving the team anxious to see how he could enhance their defensive backfield, widely viewed as their most significant weakness. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste openly took responsibility for a coverage mistake that allowed a crucial 32-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Mike Williams, giving Pittsburgh the late lead.
In terms of player performances, Jeremy Chinn stood out by demonstrating the impact that the Commanders aimed to have when he signed as a free agent over the summer. The fifth-year safety made his first interception of the season against Wilson and additionally recovered a fumble later in the game after Quan Martin stripped the ball from Jaylen Warren near the end zone.
Conversely, Olamide Zaccheaus struggled in his role as a returner, muffing the first punt of the game that Washington managed to recover. Later in the first half, he also fumbled another punt, which the Steelers promptly converted into a touchdown. Despite these challenges, Quinn expressed confidence in Zaccheaus, stating there would be no changes made regarding his position before the upcoming matchup.
Injuries continue to plague the team as they were without several key players against Pittsburgh. The availability of Lattimore (hamstring), running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring), offensive tackles Andrew Wylie (shoulder) and Cornelius Lucas (ankle), as well as kicker Austin Seibert (hip), remains uncertain as the team prepares for Thursday’s game. Quinn indicated that further clarity on the players’ status would be expected following testing on Tuesday.
A noteworthy statistic from the game is that Daniels recorded a completion percentage of 50, marking his lowest performance thus far this season. He completed 17 of 34 pass attempts for 202 yards without scoring a touchdown, and also had only 5 rushing yards, which is significantly below his average, primarily due to limited opportunities against Pittsburgh’s robust defense.
Looking ahead, after facing the Eagles, the Commanders will enter what appears to be a more favorable stretch of their schedule, featuring contests against three less competitive teams. They will host the struggling Dallas Cowboys (3-6) on November 24, followed by a game against the Tennessee Titans (2-7) on December 1, and then a Week 14 bye, before traveling to play the New Orleans Saints (3-7) on December 15.