LANDOVER, Md. — Prior to Jayden Daniels sparking excitement and significant plays for the Washington Commanders, and before coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters implemented constructive changes, offensive lineman Sam Cosmi experienced firsthand the struggles and disappointments of previous seasons.

Following the Commanders’ narrow 28-27 defeat against Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers— a loss that halted their undefeated streak at home and stymied their progress to an 8-2 record— Cosmi gathered his teammates for a firm talk in the locker room.
His message emphasized the importance of steering clear of what he termed the “snowball effect,” especially with a challenging matchup against NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the horizon for Thursday night.
Over his first three years in the NFL— all under coach Ron Rivera— Cosmi witnessed his team post a dismal record of 19-31-1, including several disappointing finishes within the division. However, with the Commanders now at the top of the rankings, he feels a distinct transformation.
“What Dan Quinn and Adam Peters have accomplished is a cultural shift,” Cosmi shared with reporters. “While we may not possess the most talent, we embody a hardworking spirit.”
Daniels recognized the impact of Cosmi’s heartfelt words, understanding that the players genuinely value victory.
“Everyone’s upset. They care about winning,” said Daniels, who completed 17 of 34 passes for 202 yards without throwing touchdowns or interceptions while only managing 5 rushing yards. “I dislike losing. I want to move past this feeling.”
Until now, Daniels had not encountered many losses as a rookie in the NFL.
However, this Commanders team, which has found success early in the season, faced more errors than it could compensate for in this match.
“This one hits hard,” Quinn remarked. “The mood in the locker room is somber.”
Entering the game, Washington had recorded only three turnovers all season, the fewest by any team after nine games since tracking began in 1933. Yet, punt returner Olamide Zaccheaus made a notable mistake, muffing a kick in the first half that the Steelers converted into a touchdown. Earlier, he had also fumbled a punt that a teammate managed to recover.
The secondary had difficulty preventing Wilson from executing successful high passes, including a 16-yard completion to George Pickens in the first half and a pivotal 32-yarder to Mike Williams, an addition made at the trade deadline, with just over a minute left in the game— these accounted for two of Wilson’s three touchdown passes.
With the game’s outcome hanging in the balance and Pittsburgh facing a fourth-and-1 near midfield with just over a minute remaining, rookie defensive lineman Johnny Newton was drawn offside by Wilson’s hard count, a penalty that ultimately impacted the result. Although Daniels noted, “It’s not all on him.”
“Everyone came to support me,” Newton reflected. “They told me to let it go and focus on the upcoming game against Philly.”