LANDOVER, Md. — Jayden Daniels had an impressive performance, throwing three touchdown passes, with two of them going to Terry McLaurin, and he also contributed a rushing touchdown as the Washington Commanders decisively defeated the Tennessee Titans 42-19 on Sunday, bringing an end to their three-game losing streak.
Daniels completed 25 of his 30 passes, accumulating 206 yards along with touchdown passes to both McLaurin and Zach Ertz. Although he did throw one interception, his outstanding play further cemented his position as a strong contender for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Meanwhile, Brian Robinson Jr. made a successful return from a sprained ankle, rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, the Commanders’ defense and special teams played a key role, each forcing a fumble during the game, which allowed the team to maintain control throughout, particularly before halftime.
This victory sets Washington solidly in a playoff position as they approach their much-anticipated bye week, having successfully regained their early-season form following struggles against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Questions about Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that came up during the losing streak were answered as the offense clicked back into high gear.
The Commanders were highly effective on third down, converting nine out of 14 attempts, and astonishingly built a 28-0 lead within just 19 minutes of the game — the quickest lead of that magnitude since the Baltimore Ravens achieved it against Miami in 2019. Furthermore, Washington’s 21 points in the first quarter marked the first time they accomplished this feat since 2015.
On the other hand, the Titans (3-9) managed to score only late in the second quarter when Will Levis connected with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a 27-yard touchdown pass. The duo added another touchdown connection in the fourth quarter, but by then, the Titans were unable to recover from what had become a significant deficit. At one point in the first half, Tennessee accumulated more penalty yards than offensive yards, making it difficult for them to recover and effectively putting the kibosh on any notions of a potential playoff run following their surprising victory against Houston in the previous week.
Frankie Luvu was a standout for the Commanders’ defense, consistently pressuring Levis. He achieved his career-high eighth sack of the season in the second quarter and effectively disrupted the Titans’ offensive efforts. His performance, along with that of fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner—who made history by reaching over 100 tackles for a remarkable 13 consecutive seasons—highlights the successful player selections by first-year general manager Adam Peters.
Injury updates included Titans cornerback Roger McCreary, who suffered a shoulder injury while making a tackle late in the third quarter. For the Commanders, wide receiver Noah Brown exited the game due to a rib injury, while cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who has yet to play since being acquired at the trade deadline, missed his fourth consecutive game due to a hamstring issue.
Looking ahead, the Titans will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday, while the Commanders are set to visit New Orleans on December 15 after their bye week.
