Voltar
The Washington Commanders finally won a game. On Sunday night, the Commanders won their second game of the season, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10. It was Washington’s first win since Week 3, and the Commanders are now 2-4-1, just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants.
While the offense had a good day, the defense was the game’s top story. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones pressured Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee relentlessly, sacking him five times and forcing two turnovers. There should’ve been three turnovers, but a bogus penalty cost Trey Amos an interception.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 16 of 29 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 23 yards on two carries. Daniels hit a couple of deep passes, but wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in recent weeks. Yet, he still played well. If he isn’t perfect, for some reason there tends to be discourse over his play on social media, something you don’t often see with other quarterbacks.
So, which Washington players shined the brightest on Sunday night? We narrowed it down to six. Here are six Commanders’ game balls from Sunday night’s win.
Some people around the NFL still don’t know how good right guard Sam Cosmi is. It's unfair. Cosmi is excellent in run blocking and pass protection. In Week 1, offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn said Cosmi had Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter locked up in “Alcatraz.” On Sunday night, that continued, as Cosmi dominated that matchup again. Washington averaged over five yards per carry, and Daniels was sacked only twice, one of which was more of a coverage sack. Cosmi led the way.
Treylon Burks continues to see his role increase. It was increasing before Terry McLaurin’s injury, but now Burks is a legit outside starting receiver for the Commanders. He caught three passes for 81 yards on Sunday night, including a 53-yard bomb from Daniels. Burks has the size and speed to be a WR1. Injuries ruined his first four NFL seasons. Now, the former first-round pick is healthy, has a great quarterback, and is making the most of his second chance. His continued development will be a fun storyline to follow.
How wild is it to see two Washington receivers on this list, and they’re not named Terry McLaurin or Stefon Diggs? We know McLaurin was lost for the season, unfortunately. Diggs was excellent again, catching three passes and his team-leading fifth touchdown. But Williams, the third-round rookie, is continuing to see his role grow. He led all receivers in snaps and caught five passes for 54 yards. He also led Washington in seven targets. Daniels trusts Williams, which is good news for the rookie. He was “unguardable” on Sunday night.
Chaisson was called for two ticky-tack roughing-the-passer penalties. The first one, understandable, even if it was soft. The second was ridiculous and cost the Commanders an interception. Outside of that, Chaisson was a mismatch for the Eagles all night, recording four tackles, including one for loss, one sack and three quarterback hits. He finished the game with seven pressures. Chaisson has been good all year, and he's hitting his stride as a pass rusher.
We are bound to leave some guys off this list. We could make the case for Dorance Armstrong, Charles Omenihu, Shy Tuttle, Odafe Oweh, Sonny Styles, Frankie Luvu, Amik Robertson and Trey Amos, but Cross was a tone-setter on Sunday. He’s a sure tackler. He’s a physical force coming downhill. Cross led Washington with nine tackles, including an impressive stop for loss. Cross missed three games, but he’s healthy now. He should benefit greatly from this Daronte Jones defense, which is safety-friendly.
Punter Tress Way was phenomenal as always. Luke McCaffrey had two huge returns, which helped the offense. But rookie kicker Drew Stevens put 13 points on the board. He made a 56-yard field goal. He missed only one, from 55 yards. The Commanders are doing the right thing by sticking with Stevens. He has a strong leg. He's accurate, too. No kicker is perfect, but Washington could have a good one if it remains patient and sticks with Stevens.