The Washington Commanders showed early signs of promise against the Los Angeles Rams, but ultimately couldn’t hold on, which led to a 20-13 defeat in week nine.
Washington entered halftime with a 10-6 advantage but struggled to maintain their lead after the break. Los Angeles capitalized on the Commanders’ offensive setbacks and pulled away in the second half to secure the win.
The struggles and ongoing issues along the offensive line proved to be costly for the Commanders. Although the defense made several impactful plays, Washington’s offense failed to generate enough scoring opportunities to match Los Angeles’ production.
“Frustrating game. And once again, we have not nailed our complementary football, and I’ll keep saying it until we do,” said Head Coach Dan Quinn. “We’re halfway through the season, and that all has to click. After stops, I don’t think we capitalized. We had two takeaways. I think we only got three points out of it. We had some opportunities for fourth down stops defensively to get those stops to get it flipped the other way.”
Defensive Efforts Not Enough to Secure Victory
The Commanders struggled to contain Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who finished with 14 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown. His production accounted for nearly half of Los Angeles’ offensive output.
“They ran the same play all day, feeding the same person the same ball all day,” said outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson. “So, as a defense, you have to figure out how you’re going to stop that.”
However, Washington did put in efforts to limit the Rams’ other offensive options. No Los Angeles running back recorded more than 60 rushing yards, and no other receiver finished with more than 20 receiving yards.
But it was Nacua who continued to find openings in Washington’s secondary to keep the Los Angeles offense afloat. His fourth-quarter touchdown reception put Los Angeles ahead and ultimately secured the victory.
Washington’s defense made several key plays to keep the Commanders competitive throughout the game. Linebacker Frankie Luvu led the unit with 15 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack on Stafford.
Safety Nick Cross also made a significant impact in the secondary, finishing with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, three passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Despite the defense’s contributions, Washington’s offense failed to take advantage of the opportunities created by those turnovers. The lack of offensive production ultimately prevented the Commanders from turning their defensive efforts into a victory.
“I think you see the progress regardless of the results,” Chaisson continued. “Obviously… you want the win. But progress is steady. We’re inching our way, getting closer. I think we’re making great strides. We just have to find a way to come out with the win for sure.”
Offensive Production Became Nonexistent After Early Success
Washington entered the matchup looking to build on its previous week’s victory over Philadelphia while aiming to avoid another sluggish offensive start. The Commanders found their rhythm early against Los Angeles, opening the contest with two scoring drives.
Their most explosive offensive drive came on an 80-yard scoring possession, highlighted by a 45-yard screen pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels to running back Rachaad White. Daniels capped off the possession with a seven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Van Jefferson, giving Washington an early advantage.
“We came out fast. We came out pretty smooth, obviously,” said White. “Then we got stagnant coming out of halftime, so we keep talking about, ‘you’ve just got to play a complete game.’”
However, the offense lost its rhythm after taking a 10-6 advantage. Washington managed only three additional points across its next seven possessions, allowing Los Angeles to gradually take control.
Daniels finished the day completing 24 of 35 passes for 274 yards and recording a touchdown. However, his second-quarter fumble proved costly, as Washington missed an opportunity to extend their lead before halftime.
“We get in those moments, and we have to finish. We have to make plays; that’s for myself, that’s for the [offensive line], for the running backs, receivers, the play calls, and everything like that,” Daniels said after the game. “Regardless of what they call, we have to make plays.”
Offensive Line Struggles Continue to Hurt Washington
Washington’s offensive line continued to struggle with pass protection throughout the game. The Commanders surrendered four sacks, while their running backs averaged just 3.2 yards per carry. Those struggles made it difficult for the offense to establish consistency.
“There are some things we need to put out from penalties wise, and operational wise,” said guard Sam Cosmi. “So, obviously, that was the problem today. But from an [offensive line] perspective, I think we did a lot of good things out there. ”
The unit also suffered a significant injury when center Lucas Patrick exited the game with a concussion after the second quarter. Rookie Matt Gulbin was called into action, adding to the challenges along the offensive line.
The protection issues became particularly costly late in the fourth quarter. Rams defensive end Myles Garrett broke through the line of scrimmage and sacked Daniels for a 12-yard loss. The play put Washington in a difficult fourth-down situation that they were unable to convert. The drive ended in another offensive possession without points.
Patrick’s availability moving forward will be something to monitor as Washington prepares for their third primetime matchup of the season, but this time against the division leader.
“It’s a hard ask to go out there and go one-on-one versus Myles Garrett when they put him up,” said Cosmi. “For the most part, I think [Gulbin] went out there and really competed and fought and that’s all he can ask for. We tried to help him as much as we could out there, but, for the most part, he’s kind of throwing the fire and he fought. So, at the end of the day, we’re proud of him.”
Commanders Turn Their Attention to the Giants
Washington now shifts their focus to a Thursday night showdown against NFC East division rival, the New York Giants. Following the loss to Los Angeles, the Commanders face added pressure to get back on track as they attempt to remain competitive in the NFC East.
“ I think it speaks to the importance of [playing] a division leader right away,” said Quinn. “And so, it’s a difficult locker room. We’ve got to turn the page quickly to get to that because [it’s like]… ‘OK, this is where we are, but we also know, we have to play at our best.’”
The upcoming matchup will be especially important for a team that has been searching for greater consistency on offense. Protecting Daniels, establishing a more effective running game, and finding ways to finish scoring drives will be major priorities.
The Commanders showed some encouraging signs against the Rams, particularly on defense, but their offensive shortcomings proved too costly. With a thrilling Thursday night showdown up next against the division leader, Washington will need a much more complete performance to save their season.
“We’ll dissect [Sunday’s game], and I [will] watch my film, but tomorrow, it’s on to New York,” said Cosmi. “That’s kind of just how Thursday nights roll. You learn from the mistakes, and then try to build on the good things.”
