The Commanders were reeling after a tough road loss in Week 4 to a team that many expected them to beat. Fan confidence began to crumble after the defense gave Michael Penix and the Falcons’ offense the get right win they needed.
Hogs Haven discussion threads were rife with questions about Joe Whitt’s job security and Adam Peters’ new Over the Hill Gang. How would the offense, missing Jayden Daniels’ number one playmaker, hold up against the Chargers’ defense, which ranked 3rd in the league in EPA/play? Would the Commanders’ 24th ranked defense be able to contain Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton? Would Joe Whitt’s seat heat up after another disappointing performance?
The answers couldn’t have been better. After a slow start, Jayden Daniels returned to 2024 form. Rookie RB Bill Croskey-Merritt had his breakout performance. And they were backed by standout performances on both sides of the ball and special teams.
The Commanders’ defense held the Chargers to 10 pts and 181 passing yards, with a performance that ranked 4th in the league in EPA/play (-0.157) and opponent success rate (38.5%) in Week 5, with 2 critical takeaways. Meanwhile, standout performances by Jayden, Bill and Deebo led the Commanders to a top 5 finish in Offensive Success Rate (56.9%) and a 6th place weekly ranking in EPA/play (0.251).
As attention turns to the Monday Night Football matchup with the Chicago Bears, let’s have a look at the individual performances which helped the Commanders right the ship.
**Jayden** took a while to warm up in his return from injury. In the first quarter, he completed 1/3 passes for 7 yds. By half time that was up to 6/9 for 122 yds. And by the third quarter, he was playing like last season. He finished the game with 15 comp/26 att (57.7% at 10.5 yd ADOT), 231 yds, 1 TD, 1 sack for 5 yds. On the ground, he added 39 yds/8 attempts (4.9 Y/A) with 2 first downs. It was his best game of the season in practically every statistical category, which might have something to do with his protection being much improved. According to Pro Football Reference (PFR), he experienced pressure on just 3.1% of dropbacks, down from 25% in Week 2 and 10.5% in Week 1.
Jayden’s 71.8 Total QBR was his best mark of the season (previous high 51.6 in Week 1), and ranked 9th best in the league in Week 5.
It turns out **Bill Croskey-Merritt**’s Pepsi Rookie of the Week performance in Week 1 was just the warm-up. He had his breakout game against the Chargers, rushing for 111 yds on 14 carries (7.9 Y/A), 6 first downs and 2 TDs, with 3 forced missed tackles and 1 unforced fumble for a turnover. That performance was good for a 71.4% rushing success rate. Bill averaged 2.64 YBC/att, which is the most free running room he’s had since Week 1.
He also caught 2/2 passes for 39 yds.
**Chris Rodriguez** ran for just 7 yds on 5 attempts (1.4 Y/A, 20% success rate). That dismal performance wasn’t all on him, as he averaged -0.8 YBC/att.
**Jeremy McNichols** had 1 carry for 6 yds (100% success rate) and caught 1/2 targets for 12 yds. McNichols ran routes on 13/15 offensive snaps, which was similar to his utilization last week. He collected a 5 yd false start penalty in the second quarter.
**Deebo Samuel** had 11 targets, one fewer than all of Washington’s other receivers combined. Eight other Commanders had targets, but none more than twice.
It was a good strategy, as Deebo 8/11 passes (72.7%, ADOT 9.8 yds) for 96 yds, 4 first downs and 1 TD (72.7% success rate). Deebo led the Commanders in total YAC (42 yds) and forced missed tackles on receptions (3) and was second in receiving productivity at 3.31 Y/RR. He hauled in 1/3 contested targets.
**Luke McCaffrey** played half as many snaps as Deebo. Nevertheless, he led the team in receiving productivity at 3.57 Y/RR and was second in receiving yards. He caught 1/2 targets for 50 yds at an ADOT of 36.5 yds and is credited with a contested catch. That reception pulled him to within 22 yds of his 2024 receiving total.
**Jaylin Lane** caught 1/2 targets for 16 yards. It was also a contested catch. He collected his first NFL penalty on a flag for offensive pass interference in the fourth quarter, which was declined.
**Tay Martin** caught his only target for 9 yds.
**Chris Moore** played the second most snaps at WR, but was only targeted once for a drop in the end zone.
**Zach Ertz** had his most forgettable game as a Commander, with 1 dropped pass on 1 target. He did earn a good run blocking grade from PFF (75.3) on 8 blocking snaps.
**John Bates** looked good on his return from injury, earning a 62.2 run blocking grade and 78.1 pass blocking grade on limited attempts. He caught his first passing target of the season for 9 yds.
**Ben Sinnott** played 14 snaps as a run blocker and 5 running routes. PFF gave him the second best run blocking grade on the team (73.7) after Zach Ertz.
**Trent Scott** was once again used as an extra inline TE, primarily to block on running downs. PFF gave him a modest 58.8 run blocking grade. He allowed a QB hurry on 1 of 3 pass blocking reps, which accords reasonably well with his 43.1 pass blocking grade. Trent was the most penalized Commander with 5 yard flags for false start and illegal formation, both in the fourth quarter.
**Colson Yankoff** ran routes on 3 plays from inline TE and slot alignments. He was flagged for holding in the fourth quarter but the penalty was declined.
Like last week, the Commanders ran a completely stable offensive front for the entire game.
LT **Laremy Tunsil** was rock solid in pass protection with just 1 hurry allowed in 35 pass blocking snaps (2.9% Pressure Rate). This season he has allowed pressure on 3.0% of pass pro reps, which is nearing the elite range for OTs. PFF gave him a 60.9 run block grade. Tunsil kept alive his perfect streak of at least one penalty per game with a holding call in the fourth quarter.
LG **Chris Paul** allowed 0 pressures in pass protection which, needless to say, is as good as you can get. His run blocking received a 50.8 grade.
PFF credited C **Tyler Biadasz** with Jayden Daniels’ only sack. On a positive note, it was the only pressure he allowed. His 2.9% Pressure Rate marked his second best effort of the season, when he allowed 0. This was only the second time this season he has been under 4.5%. His run blocking earned a 61.6 grade.
RG **Andrew Wylie** allowed 0 pressures in pass pro for the second time since earning the start in Week 3. His run blocking earned a 56.9 grade.
RT **Josh Connerly** reverted back to rookie form in pass pro, after solid performances in Weeks 3 and 4. He allowed 4 QB hurries, equating to an 11.4% pressure rate, about twice the acceptable rate for an OT. He was better as a run blocker, earning 67.0 grade from PFF.
While penalties continue to plague the offense, the Commanders’ defense showed the way by playing a penalty-free game.
The Commanders’ designation of defensive “starters” (denoted by \* in the tables) in this game was just bizarre. For example, Jalyn Holmes was the only edge defender listed as a starter, despite playing the fourth fewest snaps of the group. The designation of starters at all defensive positions had similar quirks.
**Jacob Martin** took the most snaps at edge alignments (DE, OLB), splitting time more or less equally between left and right sides. He recorded 3 total pressures, including 1.5 sacks, on 22 pass rush attempts for a decent 13.6% Pressure Rate. He made 1 run stop on 11 rushing downs (9.1% Run Stop Rate). Martin finished the game with 1 tackle, 2 assists, and 2 total defensive stops.
**Dorance Armstrong** only recorded 2 pressures in 22 pass rush snaps (9.1% Pressure Rate) but they were both sacks. He is currently on pace for a 17 sack regular season. Armstrong contributed in other ways with 2 tackles for loss, and 1 assist, for total of 4 defensive stops. He made 1 stop on 8 rushing downs for a very good 12.5% Run Stop Rate.
**Von Miller** had the highest Pressure Rate of the ED group, with 3 total pressures, including 1.5 sacks on 20 pass rush snaps (15.0%). He made 2 tackles and 1 assist, with 1 TFL. PFF credits him with a missed tackle, but PFR does not. To me, that all adds up to 3 defensive stops, but PFF only credits him with 1.
**Jalyn Holmes** registered 1 QB hit in 8 pass rush snaps (12.5% Pressure Rate) and 1 run stop in 11 rushing downs (9.1% Run Stop Rate). PFF credits him with 1 tackle and 1 assist.
**Preston Smith** made 1 tackle for a run stop in his first game back in burgundy and gold.
**Daron Payne** normally takes around 25% of his defensive snaps at DE. This game that went up to 51%. He played the most snaps of any Washington defender at LDE (17 LDE, 3 RDE). Payne recorded just 1 TFL on a passing play and 1 QB hit (4.0% Pressure Rate).
**Javon Kinlaw** played 14 snaps at RDE, which tied with Jalyn Holmes for the most on the team. He recorded 3 tackles and 1 assist, but also missed 2 tackles. He generated 2 QB hurries on 24 pass rush attempts (8.3% Pressure Rate) and 3 run stops on 13 rushing downs (23.1% Run Stop Rate).
**Johnny Newton** was the Commanders’ most productive interior defender on a down to down basis. He split time almost equally between DT and DE and recorded 2 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 pass deflection which resulted in a pick by Mike Sainristil. In the pass rush, he recorded his first sack of the season plus 3 QB hurries, resulting in an awesome 23.5% Pressure Rate.
**Eddie Goldman** registered 1 tackle assist.
As usual, **Bobby Wagner** led the Commanders in tackles (PFR 8 tkl, 6 asst, 1 miss; PFF 11 tkl, 2 asst, 1 miss) and defensive stops (4). Three of his stops were against the run, resulting in a solid 12.5% Run Stop Rate. Wagner logged 1 QB hit on 6 blitzes (16.7% Pressure Rate).
PFF credits Wagner with 4 receptions allowed/4 targets for 45 yds. PFR had him at 4/5 for 37 yds. This season PFF gives him a 113.5 Passer Rating when targeted; while PFR rates him even worse at 135.0.
**Frankie Luvu** continued his sophomore slump in Washington with another up and down performance. He made 2 tackles, and 2 assists, with 2 defensive stops against the pass and 1 missed tackle. He failed to generate pressure in 20 pass rush attempts (12 from the edge, 8 blitzes). In coverage PFF credits him with 5 rec/5 tgt for 26 yds and 1 TD (PFR 5 rec/5 tgt, 43 yds, 1 TD).
**Jordan Magee** packed a lot of game action into 12 defensive snaps. He registered 2 tackles, 1 assist and a team high 3 missed tackles (PFR: 2 misses, still team-leading), with 2 defensive stops. He added 1 QB hurry on 2 blitzes and was not targeted in 2 coverage snaps. Altogether, Magee registered defensive stats on 7/12 snaps (58%), with 4 in the ‘good’ column and 3 in the ‘needs improvement’ column.
According to PFF, **Marshon Lattimore** was targeted twice in 43 coverage snaps, allowing 2 receptions for 17 yards and a very stingy 0.395 Yards/Coverage Snap. PFR rated him even better at 1/1 for 6 yds and 0.139 Y/Cov Snp. PFF credits him with 1 tkl, 1 asst, 1 miss (PFR: 2 asst, 1 miss). He also recovered Quan Martin’s forced fumble in the second quarter, which provided the spark to ignite the Commanders’ comeback.
**Trey Amos** continued his excellent rookie performance, allowing just 2 rec/2 tgt for 17 yds in 43 coverage snaps (0.442 Y/Cov Snp) per PFF. PFR counted 2 rec/3 tgt for 19 yds (0.442 Y/Cov Snp). For readers unfamiliar with the metric, anything below 0.7 Y/Cov Snap is shutdown corner territory. Amos has been there in 4/5 games this season. He also made 1 tackle, 1 assist and 1 defensive stop.
**Mike Sainristil** had one of his best days on defense as a Commander. In coverage, he allowed 3 rec/5 tgt for 23 yards (0.605 Y/Cov Snp) per PFF (PFR 2/4, 20 yds, 0.526 Y/Cov Snp), with 2 pass breakups and a crucial interception goal-line interception of Johnny Newton’s deflected pass to kill the Chargers’ comeback attempt midway through the fourth quarter. In addition to that, PFR credited him with 7 tackles, 2 assists and 1 missed tackle. PFF saw it slightly differently (7 tackles, 1 miss, 2 defensive stops) but the overall picture remained the same.
**Noah Igbinoghene** was not targeted in 1 coverage snap.
**Quan Martin** forced Quinton Johnson’s fumble for a turnover, which changed the momentum of the game in the second quarter. In addition to that, PFF credits him with 8 tkl, 1 miss and 2 defensive stops (PFR: 6 tkl, 3 asst, 0 misses). In coverage, Quan allowed 3 rec/5 tgt for 28 yds per PFR, or 46 yds per PFF.
**Jeremy Reaves** made 5 tackles and 2 assists with 2 misses per PFR, or 5 tkl, 3 asst, 3 misses and 3 defensive stops per PFF. In coverage, PFF counted 4 rec/5 tgt for just 3 yds. PFR scored him very differently at 5 rec/6 tgt for 50 yds.
**Darnell Savage** played just 11 defensive snaps at free safety. He registered 1 tackle assist and 1 missed tackle, per PFF (PFR 0 tkl, 1 miss), and was targeted once in 10 coverage snaps, allowing 1 rec for 10 yds.
**Percy Butler** was only on the field for 2 defensive snaps and still managed to make 1 tackle in run defense and allow 1 rec/1 tgt for 21 yds, per PFF. PFR agrees on the tackle but not the reception.
**Matt Gay** had his second perfect game in a row, hitting field goals from 29 and 36 yards out and going 3/3 on extra points.
He was assisted by the exquisite long snapping of **Tyler Ott**, who has yet to raise attention this season.
**Tress Way** punted twice for 101 yds with no returns and 1 landed within the Chargers’ 20 yard line. So far this season, 9/16 of his punts have been returned for a total of 35 yds (3.9 Y/R, 2.19 Y/Punt). He is currently tied with the Giants’ Jamie Gillian for lowest return average in the NFL (min 6 punts), thanks to the Commanders’ excellent coverage units, in addition to his stellar and ageless punting.
**Luke McCaffrey** returned 3 kickoffs for 92 yds (30.7 Y/R) with a long of 40. He currently ranks 3rd in the league at 31.4 Y/R (min 6 attempts), behind teammate Deebo Samuel (31.6 Y/R) and Seattle’s Dareke Young (34.4 Y/R).
**Jaylin Lane** made 1 fair catch and no returns on 2 Chargers’ punts.
Four Commanders made single tackles in special teams coverage: S **Tyler Owens**, **CB Antonio Hamilton**, WR **Tay Martin**, CB **Mike Saintristil**.
TE **Colson Yankoff** chipped in 1 tackle assist to go with 1 missed tackle.
**Mike Sainristil** also committed an offside penalty on a field goal block attempt in the first quarter, to extend a drive an allow a Chargers’ TD. It could have been a costly mistake, but turned out not to be, thanks in no small part to Sainristil’s contributions on defense. It was only Mikey’s fifth penalty with the Commanders.
**Tay Martin** committed an unnecessary roughness penalty for 13 yards on the kickoff return to start the last drive of the first half.
Last week I asked readers which Commander would step up the most, with options limited to players who weren’t at their best against the Falcons and two new additions. Here are the results:
Hogs Haven readers know their stuff. The most popular answer was Bill Croskey-Merritt, who stepped up in a major way. The next most popular choice was Luke McCaffrey, who made a big play on offense and excelled on kick returns. Readers can’t be faulted for the fact that Jayden Daniels, Deebo Samuel, Mike Sainristil, Johnny Newton, Trey Amos and the two guards were not options. Bobby Wagner demonstrated that he should not be underestimated.
This week, I’ll make it simpler.
See More:
* [Give Me the Numbers...STAT!](/give-me-the-numbers-stat)