The Washington Commanders suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in 2024 when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. It also made their path to the playoffs more difficult, although they were still within reach.
The Commanders had no answer for Saquon Barkley and Jayden Daniels suffering a rib injury is taking its toll on the offense. Things aren't going so smoothly at the moment and that's affecting the team's dynamic. However, team morale remains high as everyone believes this team is capable of achieving great things.
In Week 12, the Commanders face another division rival, the Dallas Cowboys. But without Dak Prescott, the Cowboys offense was barely able to accomplish anything. Nothing is ever certain and nothing is a guarantee, but the Commanders should recover this weekend.
As Week 12 begins, here's a look at where commanders rank in a variety of power rankings.
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The team maintains that there's nothing wrong with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels… despite being his least efficient (59.1% completion percentage, 74.9 passer rating) and most effective (23 rushing yards, 1 generated touchdown) played football.
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There will be days like this, no matter how quickly the reconstruction progresses. The Commanders had no answer for Saquon Barkley in the fourth quarter. Jayden Daniels was normal for one night. Let's call it a newbie.
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Preseason Hot Seat: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Current hot seat temperature: CookForbes opened the season as a starter, but missed two games with a thumb injury and has not started since. The 2023 first-round pick has played just eight snaps in the last four games combined. Washington needed him to improve after a rough rookie season, but he didn't, which led in part to a trade for cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Washington will have to address this situation even more after the season. If Forbes cuts it before June 1, it would cost them $9.1 million in dead cap money and provide no cap relief — and would actually cost them $4.9 million. That could mean he stays another year.
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Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network:
The way the Washington Commanders started the season gave them some wiggle room for an almost inevitable wobble at some point. They've lost to four good teams this year and three that are in the top 10 of our rankings.
The manner of the loss in Week 11 wasn't ideal, as the offense looked largely jaded. But it's still a top-five unit, and Washington's defense did a solid job for much of the game against Philly, which will be encouraging.
The Commanders' schedule is the third easiest going forward, and that starts this week with a Cowboys team that's in shambles. They can't ignore the next two weeks against Dall and Tennessee, because if the Commanders come into their bye at 9-4, they might just need one more win to secure a playoff spot.
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Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:
The Commanders appear to be more of a shaky wildcard team as the tougher teams on their schedule have given them trouble. The Eagles, who finished in first place, were last after falling to the Ravens and Steelers. Washington has a good chance to recover and finish strong.
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The Commanders were down 12-10 with eight minutes left in Philadelphia when a four-down gamble didn't work. It was a narrower defeat than we will remember. If Washington handles business in its next three games against Dallas, Tennessee and New Orleans, the Commanders will have 10 wins, and that's okay.
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The 2024 season will be remembered as a success for Washington no matter how events turn out, but head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury must find a way to regain some offensive rhythm. While this unit hasn't completely fallen off a cliff, the passing game has come back down to earth in recent weeks and that sheds light on other deficiencies on this roster. quarterback Jayden Daniels has completed just 59.5 percent of his passes in his last four games, and he hasn't been able to avoid pressure as easily as he did before his rib injury against the Panthers. Without his superpowers elevating the overall level of this team, it's hard to imagine Washington looking like a real playoff threat down the stretch.
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It's hard not to notice the downward trend in the Commanders' offense since Jayden Daniels suffered a rib injury in Week 7. The problem is that they need their offense to overcome their defensive problems. Increased competition could be a factor; Either way, for the first time since September we're seeing some chinks in their armor. They are one miracle away from suffering three losses in their last four games, and two narrow wins over teams with losing records have kept them afloat in that span. According to Next Gen Stats, Washington still has an 81 percent chance of reaching the postseason, but the lack of consistent playmakers and inability to finish games are somewhat concerning. The home game against the Cowboys and Titans gives the Commanders a chance to recover. If they continue to have trouble moving the ball or putting points on the board, maybe it's time to worry a little.
