Commanders Report Card: Team Grades In Nfl Week 1 Loss To Eagles

The Commanders are 0-1. That’s a simple fact following Sunday’s 24-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.  

While NFL football’s a zero-sum game, there was some nuance to the season-opener worth noting, with some standout performances and (let’s be honest) unacceptable blunders that played a huge role in the outcome.  

There was a reason why the Commanders struggled at the outset and found a way to come storming back, only to be felled by a failed 2-point conversion attempt, and a few explosive plays allowed defensively leading up to that.  

We learned a ton about this new-look Commanders team with still so much more to glean. Let’s grade out how Washington looked in each phase of Sunday’s game following that disappointing Week 1 result in Philadelphia:  

Rushing offense 

The Commanders ground game produced 132 yards on 32 carries, just squeaking above four yards per rush thanks to some Jayden Daniels moves straight out of Madden. The Commanders weren’t terribly efficient outside of that, besides a few bright spots. It’s hard to blame run blocking or the backs without film study, but coordinator David Blough’s offense is predicated on rushing efficiency. So much is available to scheme if you achieve that. The Commanders were committed to the ground game — get used to that – but must be better at it.  

Grade: C-minus 

Passing offense 

Terry McLaurin spent most of this game without a catch, a rarity of the highest order. Stefon Diggs had four catches and a touchdown, but on nine targets. Antonio Williams was, well, awesome, with four receptions for a team-high 64 yards and had an excellent late-game touchdown.  

Daniels wasn’t efficient in completing 18-of-34 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns – it’s probably safe to say the Eagles secondary beat the Commanders receivers on Sunday – but he was smart with the football and largely avoided big hits. We’ll need to see more from Daniels and the passing game and we will. There should be confidence in that. The passing scheme is good. The execution must be better. Yet, somehow, Daniels found a way to get revved and make a valiant comeback attempt.  

Grade: C-plus 

Rushing defense 

Take away Saquon Barkley’s 42-yard explosion and Jalen Hurts’ 22-yard scramble on third-and-long(!!) and it’s a respectable rushing day at 72 yards on 23 carries (3.13 ypc). Problem is, you can’t do that. The run defense overall, looked pretty good. As you’ll read in the next item, those explosive plays simply must be eliminated. Barkley’s gonna get a big one every now and then. That Hurts run was inexcusable.  

Watching it live, I thought the linebackers and safeties played well against the run overall, and the defensive line looks much improved.  

Grade: B-minus 

Passing defense 

The Commanders limited Hurts to 203 yards. Sounds like a good day. Largely it was, save two bad plays by Mikey Sainristil against Dontayvion Wicks and a 43-yard Dallas Goedert TD at the worst possible time — wasn’t that a false start?? — and it gets rough. Commanders simply must limit explosive plays. It’s that simple. They gave up some big ones at the worst possible time. Overall, though, the pass rush was strong, with three sacks and five quarterback hits. Sonny Styles looks like that dude. So does Odafe Oweh.  

Grade: B 

Special teams 

Tyler Owens gets an A-plus all on his own. But the high Tyler Ott snap that led to a missed extra point and a 54-yard field goal Drew Stevens sailed very wide right was not. Special teams should be a strength. Hard to say it unequivocally was on this day.  

Grade: C 

Coaching 

You’ll come to find that I gave A’s or F’s for coaching. Did the staff win Washington this game or lose it? It’s that simple.  

But maybe not this time. Again, more tape review is required, but my initial thought was that Daronte Jones’ game plan was aces. Really good, and I love the style of play.  

David Blough’s night felt more uneven, though execution was lacking and that Eagles defense is pretty good. And, on that 2-point conversion, I find a way to target McLaurin or Diggs and let those dudes make a play, maybe on a roll out where Daniels can run if he wants.  

I liked that Dan Quinn wasn’t finding moral victories after the loss, but his impact on the game was negligible.  

Grade: C 

How would you grade Commanders after that loss to Philly? Let us know in the comments below.