Stefon Diggs shone late after a rough opening
The Washington Commanders were significantly depleted at wide receiver. That made it even more important for Stefon Diggs to step up, but it wasn't the day he hoped for.
Diggs dropped another makeable pass early in the game. The four-time Pro Bowl wideout didn't get another target after that, which suggests either patience or trust in the player is waning.
Whether Diggs is in the doghouse or not is debatable. He's not a legitimate focal point like in his prime years, but this early error clearly gave quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough enough reasons to pause.
The Maryland product has to do more. Because the Commanders don't have many other options.
Commanders center gamble continues to backfire
Adam Peters' gamble at center this offseason remains a stain on his record. The Commanders placed a ridiculous amount of faith in Nick Allegretti, signed Lucas Patrick off the street, and waited until the sixth round to draft Matt Gulbin.
It's not going well. And when Lucas had to leave the game with a concussion, it was Gulbin and not Allegretti who replaced him.
Allegretti is dealing with an injury. He was working on the bike along the sideline, but something is preventing the Commanders from getting him involved. And things are starting to unravel with a short week before Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. saved his best for the Commanders
From the start, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was clearly motivated to make the Commanders pay for giving up on him too soon. The cornerback was never the right pick and was a weak link early in the game. However, he found his groove and made big plays in key moments.
Revenge is always the best motivator. Forbes got a bit of good luck, especially late when Jayden Daniels missed Van Jefferson Jr. after the corner was firmly beating, but this is the last thing Washington fans wanted to see.
And no doubt you'll hear about it from Forbes on social media.
A frustrating game the Commanders could have won
The Commanders may have been underdogs against the Rams. Even so, they could have easily won.
They didn't execute effectively enough in key moments. Los Angeles' big players all came through when it mattered most, and the Commanders fluffed their lines.
That was about the long and short of it, really. And the Commanders are now 2-5-1 through eight games with some big decisions to make before the 2026 trade deadline.
The Rams did just enough. The Commanders fell short. And now, it's going to take a significant amount to turn the tide for head coach Dan Quinn as pressure builds.
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