EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — You have to steel yourself against overemphasizing certain wins in a season like the one the Washington Commanders are putting together, against falling for the “they wouldn’t have won this game a year ago” tripe.
Let’s just say that, after last Sunday’s miracle in Landover, a letdown against a 2-6 New York Giants team, playing in front of far less than a sellout crowd at MetLife Stadium, would not have surprised anyone.
Yet the Commanders put together a perfectly acceptable, workmanlike 60 minutes here Sunday, improving to 7-2 and holding on to first place in the NFC East after their 27-22 victory over the Giants. It was a professional effort, highlighted by a few dazzling Jayden Daniels completions, to be sure. His 18-yard back-shoulder touchdown throw to Terry McLaurin just before the end of the first half was perfect. But this game was won just as much by the team’s depth and its — oh, no, I’m about to type it — supporting cast as it was by its brilliant rookie quarterback.
“I think their relentless nature of improvement, and going for it, is a big deal,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said. “There’s a lot of guys in that pocket. I try not to think too far down the line, but to stay in this pocket of getting better and finding the things to work on to do that, we’ve got a big crew of people who are ready to do that. The connection of the team is a really big deal. I think that’s the best part of this team, as a group. They battle, hard, for one another.”
For sure, Daniels has earned the spotlight and the lion’s share of the credit for Washington’s best start to a season since 1996. But the underpinning of this team, as constructed by Adam Peters and his front office and coached by Quinn and his staff, consists of multiple guys who have made immediate and significant contributions to the roster at important spots, and not for a wild salary.
“We just want to be a supporting cast and be able to give him those tools and that support, knowing he doesn’t have to do it by himself. He’s got a team around him. So, kind of take that pressure off of him a little bit,” said safety Jeremy Chinn, who was all over the field Sunday.
So was running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. With Brian Robinson Jr. out with a hamstring injury, Washington’s running back position went back to a committee, with Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Rodriguez handling the rock. Daniels had eight carries for 35 yards, but the RB trio combined for 30 carries and 114 yards. Nothing earth-shattering for most of the day, but 3 and 4 yards at a time on the road keeps your quarterback in front of the sticks rather than way behind them. Rodriguez, who was on Washington’s practice squad, didn’t know until 90 minutes before kickoff that he was going to be promoted.
So was Brandon Coleman. The third-round pick from TCU gets overlooked on the regular by most, even as the front office insisted, from the time it selected him with the No. 67 pick last April, that he could be its left tackle of the future. No need to use precious first- or second-round capital on a blue-chip prospect at that marquee position; no need to suck out free-agent dollars on a veteran whom Washington could plug and play. No, the Commanders said, over and over, Coleman would get a real look at solidifying that position.
Through the first half of the season, the Commanders kept Coleman on a time share with veteran Cornelius Lucas. Then Coleman suffered a concussion in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers and missed last week’s game against the Chicago Bears. But in that game, Lucas injured his ankle; he was inactive Sunday. It was Coleman’s show Sunday, for all 60 of Washington’s offensive plays, despite dislocating his finger in the first half. And in at least a handful of those plays, Coleman was lined up against Brian Burns, New York’s premier defensive end.
Burns had no sacks. Nor did any of his teammates. Daniels’ still-tender ribs were rarely touched, nor was he often hurried, seven weeks after New York had sacked him five times in Washington. When New York brought the occasional corner blitz, as the Giants did when they sent Dru Phillips in the first half, Daniels just joysticked his way around the pressure and took off. Washington ground out the last 2:48 of the game, after New York closed to within 5. All but one of the Commanders’ final six non-kneeldown plays were runs. (One was not. And it was huge. Details below.)
“I really worked on my conditioning this week, knowing what I was going into, knowing I only played, like, half of the games. I made it a point of emphasis this week to be ready,” said Coleman, who took his 300-plus pounds out for extra sprints in preparation.
Coleman also spent the week in the classroom, trying to tweak aspects of his pass protection.
“Bobby (Johnson, Washington’s offensive line coach) and coach Stape (assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton), they were able to kind of help me, give me some pointers,” Coleman said. “I watched tape from training camp, so I was kind of feeling good, and then we talked about that. They were able to get me right for the game. … Going back the past few games I played, I overset a lot (in pass protection) and reached. And this week, I was more able to stay patient. I wasn’t worried about what (Burns) was doing; I was worried about if he doesn’t move, punching, staying in front, not leaning. That was a big emphasis.”
That one pass on the final drive, noted above, came on second-and-9 from Washington’s 31. The Giants were one defensive stand and/or turnover created from giving their offense a chance to steal the game late. But Washington’s success running the ball with Rodriguez in the fourth quarter meant New York’s D-line had to honor Daniels’ play-fake to the back. The rush wasn’t robust. Still, though, it took a long, long time for wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus to clear two Giants defensive backs playing zone. Once he did, Daniels found him for a massive 42-yard strike.
If Daniels had been running for his life all day, he might have been inclined to take off and run. But with no stress most of the afternoon because of the pass protection and the success of the running game, he instead could wait calmly for his receiver to clear.
“I think, to your point, I think it would be kind of different (under stress),” Daniels said. “Those guys, defensive line, those guys, the rush guys, they get kind of frustrated that they can’t get to the quarterback getting the ball out. And it helps with our O-line, our tackles. Obviously, those guys get paid a lot of money — (Giants nose tackle) Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns — those guys are helluva players. To be able to not get sacked by those guys, kudos to my O-line.”
There are kudos to go around, blooming like crocuses and chrysanthemums as the weather cools and fall begins. It is November, when so many previous Commanders seasons have withered on the vine. This year, though, everything remains in blossom. Anything remains possible.
(Photo of Terry McLaurin celebrating a touchdown with his teammates: Al Bello / Getty Images)
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