After an encouraging performance against Denver and with QB Jayden Daniels one of two key starters back, the Washington Commanders "
The 2025 season was already lost for the Washington Commanders heading into Sunday, but the road game vs. Minnesota before shifting to division play was the chance for Washington's offense to flash what could have been with hopes of ending a losing streak spanning two months.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels making his first return since suffering a gruesome elbow injury vs. Seattle on primetime. Noah Brown back from a groin injury that has sidelined him from week two. Sure, Austin Ekeler was still absent after suffering a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon against the Packers, but Washington was as healthy as it could be in what has proven to be a setback.
Sunday proved to be anything but that.
In fact, it proved to be the most inefficient showing by the offense this season in undeniably the most humiliating loss of them all.
Washington finished with just 205 total yards of offense vs. Minnesota, marking a new season-low, with the team's 99 passing yards the fewest since posting 85 yards against the Carolina Panthers back on Oct. 20, 2024. While Washington did average over 4.5 yards per carry in the blowout loss, the Commanders narrowly avoided its second sub-100 yard rushing performance over their last three games after Chris Rodriguez led the team in both carries (10) and yards (52) over Jacory Croskey-Merritt (7 carries, 32 yards).
After an encouraging showing in the Monday night loss vs. Denver, that feeling has been flushed with a new reality setting in.
What I told the team is I thought we took a step forward last week [vs. Denver] and tonight, I thought we took three steps back," head coach Dan Quinn said postgame.
"I would just because last week they were - [how] do we get over the hump? And I said you keep working, you keep going. And so in some regards, tonight’s harder. Tonight’s harder because when you’re that flat, did you leave it all on the table and didn’t fill the tank back up to go. And that’s our job, like to find a way to go do that, stand strong again. I just felt like we were fighting off our back foot, it felt like, in all phases. Not aggressive enough, not downhill enough.”
Three of Washington's four second half possessions ended in turnovers with quarterback Jayden Daniels at fault on the first. The other possession? A three-and-out.
Midway through the third quarter, Daniels' fourth down pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage, leading to a 40-yard return with Daniels injured on the play after chasing down linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. His injury would sideline him for the remainder of the game with the score already proving too much to overcome for Washington, only for tight end Zach Ertz to suffer a potential long-term injury after being ruled out following an injury sustained during the final minutes of the third quarter.
Marcus Mariota would step in relief, but was picked off by safety Harrison Smith on just his second pass attempt, giving Minnesota a short field to extend the lead 24-0 in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Mariota's third-down fumble in the closing minutes and final Commanders' drive would cement the humiliating loss.
Now? Washington is positioned for a top-five pick for the second time in three seasons. After Daniels suffered his third injury of the season, along with watching tight end Zach Ertz carted off the field in what may be a season - and career - ending injury for the 35-year-old tight end.
Washington will now head to New York in the return matchup against New York, both teams slated to look vastly different compared to the season-opening matchup. But for Washington, now likely to turn back to the short-handed version of the offense with Ertz sidelined and questions swirling around Jayden Daniels’ health once again, it’s clear the Commanders are far removed from what they showed at this point last season.
Washington enters week 15 in a five-way tie for the second-worst record with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints, though only the Jets sit behind the Commanders due to strength of schedule (.514 vs. .539) with Washington currently in line for the sixth overall pick. Washington also enters the offseason with several holes - arguably none bigger than the defense, whether it be along the defensive line, upgrading the cornerback room or adding safety depth. Though Terry McLaurin will enter year two of his three-year, $97 million extension, wide receiver is also a question mark with both Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown on expiring contracts, while a strong case could be made to extend Marcus Mariota a similar one-year deal that he received last offseason. RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., who has led the team in rushing in three of the last five games, also joins the 29 pending free agent, giving general manager Adam Peters his toughest assignment since joining the organization.
While Washington now shifts its focus to divisional play, they will also enter the offseason as the most confusing divisional team with work to restock the roster.