The Washington Commanders are 4-9 heading into their bye week with nothing on their minds but the end of the season after Sunday’s 45-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Washington was dominated from start to finish on both sides of the ball. The Commanders either punted or turned the ball over on their first four possessions, allowing the Dolphins to quickly jump out to a 17-0 lead. Washington scored to cut the lead to 17-7, but that was as close as it would get for the rest of the way.
It was the first game for head coach Ron Rivera as the defensive play-caller after firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio last week. The results remained the same. According to Pro Football Focus, Washington’s run defense and coverage grades from the last two games are its worst of the season.
There are still four games remaining after the bye.
It’s time to review PFF’s best and worst from Washington’s Week 13 game. Here are the grades.
Top 5 offense
- QB Sam Howell: 71.5
- RG Sam Cosmi: 71.2
- WR Jahan Dotson: 68.2
- RB Brian Robinson Jr: 67.9
- RB Chris Rodriguez Jr: 66.8
Not great offensive numbers here. It’s a bit surprising to see Howell lead the way here, but he made some nice throws, and he rushed for two touchdowns. Howell didn’t have a lot of help from his offensive line or offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Robinson played well until he missed the second half with a hamstring injury.
Top 5 defense
- DE Jalen Harris: 77.5
- S Percy Butler: 72.2
- CB Kendall Fuller: 70.0
- LB Jamin Davis: 62.6
- LB Cody Barton: 62.5
Harris was just recently signed and played 17 snaps. While he didn’t play a ton, he graded better than any other Washington defensive lineman. It wasn’t a good day for the Commanders defense. Percy Butler was the highest-graded starter, and he took his lumps, too. Fuller remains Washington’s top defensive back, but he gave up a long touchdown to Tyreek Hill.
Jamin Davis flashed at different times during the game.
Bottom 5 offense
- TE John Bates: 58.3
- LT Charles Leno: 53.4
- WR Byron Pringle: 53.3
- WR Terry McLaurin: 52.0
- LG Chris Paul: 32.9
It wasn’t a good day for Washington’s offensive line. Chris Paul’s struggles continue at left guard. Sunday’s game may have been his worst since taking over. Paul wasn’t graded well as a run blocker or pass blocker.
Terry McLaurin never grades this lowly. We aren’t sure why he was graded so lowly, considering he only had three targets, one of which was a throwaway. McLaurin did not catch a pass for only the second time in his NFL career. It’s tough to blame McLaurin for his lack of production as he’s always produced.
Bottom 5 defense
- DE Casey Toohill: 39.8
- DE Andre Jones Jr: 30.7
- DT Phidarian Mathis: 27.9
- DB Quan Martin: 26.9
- DT John Ridgeway: 26.5
Do we notice a theme here? Washington’s entire defensive line graded poorly. Rookie DE K.J. Henry earned the highest grade of 55.8 for any DL who played at least 30 snaps. That tells you Miami’s offensive line dominated the Commanders on the line of scrimmage.
Mathis looks like Washington’s latest second-round bust. It’s far too soon to put that label on Martin, who was unfairly matched up with Tyreek Hill one-on-one with no safety help on Miami’s first touchdown.
Other notable grades
- WR Curtis Samuel: 66.5
- RT Andrew Wylie: 64.5
- TE Logan Thomas: 62.4
- RB Antonio Gibson: 61.9
- CB Benjamin St-Juste: 54.7
- S Kam Curl: 52.0
- DT Daron Payne: 47.4
- DT Jonathan Allen: 43.1
Curtis Samuel was Washington’s best offensive player for the second straight game. Gibson continued his string of excellent play in recent weeks. Both Samuel and Gibson are free agents in the offseason.
Defensively, it was a mess. St-Juste struggled again. Curl didn’t play well, and Payne and Allen’s grades are a concern. Allen’s grades in recent weeks match his lack of impact on the game. Washington fans are understandably tired of hearing Allen’s frustrations when he isn’t playing well.
