Loser No. 4
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
Fans were apprehensively optimistic about Jayden Daniels returning to the lineup for the first time since dislocating his elbow against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. But it didn't take long to realize this wasn't going to go according to plan.
Daniels looked unusually hesitant. He failed to get into an early rhythm, and the complex pressure packages from Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores gave him endless problems. The Washington Commanders found themselves in a hole, and the signal-caller isn't playing well enough this season to mask their failures.
But it got worse. Daniels threw an interception when Andrew Van Ginkle jumped a screen pass. He decided to chase down the edge rusher and got a vicious block that sent him crashing hard onto the injured arm. He was cleared to go back in, but head coach Dan Quinn took him out of the firing line.
What that means for his status moving forward is anyone's guess, but Daniels has a lot of hard work ahead of him.
Winner No. 2
Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
As previously mentioned, very few Commanders players met expectations. It was a disaster of epic proportions, which only increased the urgency to get things back on track during the offseason.
Bobby Wagner was a shining light amid the chaos, as previously discussed. Although fans were frustrated that he didn't get more involved, the flashes from running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. offered reasons for encouragement.
Rodriuguez started the contest once again, displaying purposeful running and exceptional contact balance during the opening exchanges. Kliff Kingsbury calling three straight pass plays from the one-yard line set the tone of what was to come. The Kentucky product was barely seen after that, which was nothing short of unacceptable in the circumstances.
The 2023 sixth-round pick finished the game with 52 rushing yards on 10 carries. That's a decent return that warranted more involvement, but Kingsbury had other ideas.
Loser No. 5
Dan Quinn - Commanders HC
Just a few short days after head coach Dan Quinn proudly proclaimed that his Commanders squad was not lost anymore, he endured another embarrassing afternoon at the office in a game that was expected to be much closer. And his dejected demeanor after the contest spoke a thousand words.
Quinn and his staff were outcoached from start to finish. Kevin O'Connell picked apart Washington's defense with ease, bursting the bubble of the coach's impact after taking over play-calling duties from Joe Whitt Jr. We've already spoken about Kliff Kingsbury's inability to have the offense ready to go, which is either a lack of preparation or motivation.
Either way, it's a problem. Quinn's decision to keep Daniels on the sidelines, even though he was supposedly ready to return, reflected a newfound hesitancy that hadn't been evident before. Unless the Commanders can salvage something from their four remaining games, the good graces accumulated last season will evaporate completely.