The Washington Commanders have a long-awaited opportunity to do some extended soul-searching during the bye week. Although it's a lost season, there will be several intriguing storylines to watch when head coach Dan Quinn's squad gets back down to business.
There will be plenty of developments to monitor for the rest of the 2025 season. This is no longer about competing for a playoff bid, but instead finding long-term answers that can carry over into next year.
Among the top priorities on the list is fixing a unit that began the season as one of the Commanders' top strengths.
Commanders must find a way to get their run game going more consistently after the bye week
Back in Washington's first five games, when they started 3-2, the Commanders' running back room was obliterating opponents. Even after presumptive starter Brian Robinson Jr. was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles tendon in Week 2, the potent combination of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Jeremy McNichols could not be stopped.
Croskey-Merritt had his breakout in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers and was rewarded with the keys to the offense. Ever since then, though, Washington's backfield has struggled to make an impact.
The difficulties of the Commanders' ground game and the team's struggles as a whole have gone hand in hand. It's harder to establish the run when you're playing from behind. It's also harder to win without a potent rushing attack.
Washington needs to get its backfield unit going again, and Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins was a promising start. Rodriguez was the featured back throughout the first half, and he accumulated 79 yards on 15 carries. His production was the best output by a Commanders back since Croskey-Merritt's 111-yard outing in Los Angeles.
The backfield operates best with a committee approach. The Commanders don't have a high-volume star, and all three of their contributors have different skillsets. Croskey-Merritt is quick and shifty, Rodriguez is a ground-pounding, angry runner who's tough to tackle, and McNichols is the third-down specialist who adds value as a pass-catcher.
It benefits Washington to include all three in the game plan, with their usage fluctuating based on who has the hot hand. That also doesn't even account for the damage that both Jayden Daniels and Marcua Mariota can do on the ground.
If the Commanders are going to string together some wins to close out the 2025 season, the run game will need to be a significant catalyst. It has worked before, and there's no reason it shouldn't work again.