The Washington Commanders were looking to gain some semblance of positivity before the bye. Head coach Dan Quinn made drastic changes throughout the week, but the same problems persisted in a calamitous loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Quinn was immensely frustrated after the game. He knew the Commanders had several chances to put the result out of sight, but they shot themselves in the foot almost constantly. He can change the scheme or take over the defensive play-calling, but he cannot address the individual errors that are holding this team back.
Missed red-zone opportunities, wayward field goals, and sloppy execution in key moments caused Washington's demise. This was a game the Commanders lost, not one Miami won. Marcus Mariota's interception on the first play of overtime represented a microcosm of how things have unfolded for Quinn's squad in 2025.
The Commanders are 3-8. They are staring a potential top-five draft pick in the face, and there will be some difficult upcoming choices to make during Washington's extended period of rest. The players won't stop fighting, but it's not hard to see why fans are turning their attention towards another pivotal offseason for the organization.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are three winners and four losers from Washington's international defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Winners and losers from the Commanders' calamity against the Dolphins
Loser No. 1
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
With Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne suspended for punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Washington Commanders provided Johnny Newton with a chance to start. The former Illinois standout had been waiting a long time for this moment, but it ended up being an underwhelming day at the office.
Newton doesn't have the size or strength to be impactful against the run. He flashes as a pass-rusher, but the consistency just isn't where it needs to be. The Commanders could see what was unfolding and reacted accordingly, giving veteran Eddie Goldman most of the work on early downs.
Goldman was much more effective. Newton finished with one tackle and far more questions than answers about his long-term outlook. And the fact that he was unable to seize this opportunity tells fans everything about the hard work ahead for the interior defender.
The Commanders thought they had a steal on their hands when Newton slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. But almost two seasons into his professional career, the jury is still well and truly out on that.