The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team unless specified by a direct quote.
The Washington Commanders travelled west to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers in Week 5. Here are three keys to them getting a win.
1. Establish the run.
The Washington Commanders have been better than almost any other team at running the ball over the last four weeks. They're second in yards per game and yards per attempt with eight players who have at least one carry. For all the Chargers do well on defense, their ability to stop the run is around the middle of the league. So, leaning into the ground attack might be the best way for Washington to come away with a win.
Although Washington's quarterbacks and wide receiver Deebo Samuel are key pieces of the run game, the team relies mostly on its three-pronged attack of Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt continues to be a pleasant surprise in the Commanders' backfield; he has the best running grade in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 1.71 yards over expected per attempt ranks third among running backs, per NextGenStats.
The only hitch in the Commanders' ground attack is that it hasn't been utilized as much as those of other teams. Their 105 rushing attempts are tied for 17th with the New England Patriots, who rank 25th in yards per game. That lack of usage can be partially blamed on struggling to stay on the field, as their average time of possession (28th) and plays per game (23rd) are among the lowest in the league. They were down two scores in the first half during both their losses, which can make it more difficult to run the ball.
And there's evidence to show the Chargers can be beaten with a strong ground game. The New York Giants ran the ball 42 times for 161 yards in a 21-18 win. It wasn't pretty, but it was enough, and that's all the Commanders need it to be.