2 winners (and 5 losers) from Commanders' ghastly loss against the Falcons

Dan Quinn was navigating some troubling injury concerns heading into the Washington Commanders' road game against the Atlanta Falcons. It was always going to be difficult, but it didn't take long to realize this was not going to be their day.

The Falcons came out hungry. They'd been shut out by the lowly Carolina Panthers in Week 3, and head coach Raheem Morris wanted to see a response from his players. They duly obliged, and the Commanders had no answer defensively for Atlanta's high-octane attack.

Washington was comprehensively beaten. Don't let the one-score game fool you. Anyone who watched the contest knows this was a one-sided affair. And the Commanders are now sitting at a crossroads with four weeks of the campaign gone.

The Commanders are 2-2. They have some tricky games upcoming, and the injuries continue to pile up. This is arguably more challenging than anything they went through last season. The NFL's oldest roster is already starting to feel the strain.

That is for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are two winners and five losers from the Commanders' ugly defeat at the Falcons.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' ghastly loss against the Falcons

Loser No. 1

Trey Amos - Commanders CB

Rookie second-round cornerback Trey Amos has been a revelation since joining the Washington Commanders. Unfortunately, this was easily his worst performance as an NFL pro to date.

Amos looked lost in the coverage assignments implemented by Joe Whitt Jr. He could solidify his end of the bargain in press-man situations, which was a surprise. The Ole Miss product isn't exceptionally well-suited to zone concepts, and the Falcons had no trouble picking them apart. Throw a couple of disappointing missed tackles into the equation, and the first-year pro won't be looking back on this performance with any great fondness.

Every rookie cornerback goes through growing pains at some stage. It's one of the more challenging transitions, especially compared to positions like wide receiver or running back. Amos is a strong enough character to shake this off and bounce back, but this is all part of the learning experience.

Not many Commanders defenders covered themselves in glory, to be honest. Amos was more disappointing than most, but nobody in the fan base or in the building should be pressing the panic button on a player with immense promise.

Everyone has a bad game, especially in their first year. How Amos responds in the face of adversity will be telling.

Loser No. 2

Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB

The Washington Commanders have a big problem with veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore. He's way too inconsistent to be counted upon. And the most concerning element of all centers on his lost fear factor.

Lattimore is no longer viewed as one of the league's most prolific shutdown corners. Teams were extremely wary about throwing in his direction once upon a time. Now, they are actively targeting him as a weak link. That isn't what the Commanders had in mind when they struck a bombshell trade for the defensive back before the 2024 deadline.

There is no injury to give Lattimore the benefit of the doubt anymore. He's getting burned deep and struggles to cope with speedy wide receivers in coverage. He's conceded six penalties and three completions of more than 15 yards. It's one step forward and two steps back, which only adds to the frustration.

If the same trend continues, Adam Peters has a big decision to make.

Winner No. 1

Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR

With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown out of the game through injury, the Commanders needed other wide receivers to step up. And there was one obvious candidate above all else.

The Commanders had to make Deebo Samuel Sr. a focal point. This was especially significant when they found themselves in an early hole. Although it didn't have a substantial impact on the final score, the versatile wideout's performance was a shining light amid the disappointment.

Samuel brought in all six of his targets for 72 receiving yards. This included a phenomenal touchdown grab late in the game that gave the Commanders a glimmer of hope. He gained nine rushing yards on three touches, but the ground game was negated by Atlanta's comprehensive advantage.

Washington's decision to send a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Samuel looks like an absolute steal right now. Hopefully, this trend continues throughout the campaign.

Loser No. 3

Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB

Bobby Wagner got his tackles again, finishing with a team-high 10 versus the Falcons. However, this was the first time since he joined the Commanders that the future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker had looked his age.

Wagner is still a stout force against the run. He is a supreme organizer and communicator. But when it comes to coverage tasks, he's quickly becoming a weak link. And the Falcons had no trouble exploiting it.

The pre-snap motions confused Washington's defense, not for the first time this season. Wagner was exposed. He doesn't have the explosiveness these days to keep up with quicker offensive players. And for the most part, it was tough to watch.

This wasn't Wagner's best afternoon. He'll know that, and will be eager to right this wrong at SoFi Stadium this weekend. But the Commanders need to find solutions to protect the 10-time Pro Bowler in obvious passing situations.

Loser No. 4

Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL

Javon Kinlaw is his harshest critic. That was evident after the game with a brutally honest assessment of his personal showing against the Atlanta Falcons.

Kinlaw wasn't happy, and with good reason. The free-agent signing couldn't push the pile in the trenches. He struggled to wrap up tackles effectively at the initial point of contact. After a decent start to life with the Washington Commanders, this was a step back for the South Carolina product.

He wasn't alone. The defense was an abomination across the board. The Atlanta Falcons didn't even cross the 30-yard line against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, but the Commanders crumbled to the tune of 435 total yards conceded from 10 drives.

That is simply unacceptable. Kinlaw knows it, and he made his feelings abundantly clear in the locker room after the defeat. What's important now is bouncing back and showing the correct resolve against a formidable Los Angeles Chargers offensive line next weekend.

Winner No. 2

Matt Gay - Commanders PK

As previously mentioned, there were very few bright spots to take from an underwhelming afternoon at the office. However, veteran kicker Matt Gay alleviated the increasing pressure on his shoulders with a polished display.

Gay was coming under fire for his lack of consistency on deeper kicks. This was one of the reasons he was released by the Indianapolis Colts, and the same problems were arising in Washington. Dan Quinn threw his support behind the player leading into the game, and his faith was repaid with his best performance since joining the Commanders.

The former Utah prospect nailed all four of his field goal attempts, including one from 52 yards. Gay successfully converted his only extra point attempt, which was a big step in the right direction.

Kickers have a short shelf life if they're not performing well. The money given to Gay could give him a longer leash than most, but this performance was a positive amid the doom and gloom.

Loser No. 5

Joe Whitt Jr. - Commanders DC

The Commanders' defense looked their age against the Falcons. Joe Whitt Jr. didn't have the correct adjustments, and his unit quickly became a weak link incapable of stopping Atlanta on the ground or in the air.

Whitt is taking some heat for his schematic concepts at the moment. Dorance Armstrong Jr. was dropping back into coverage, and the defensive backs struggled to cope effectively, either in press or zone coverage. The linebackers were unable to match the Falcons' speed, and the pre-snap motion remains the blueprint for success against Washington.

The game plan Whitt put together was ineffective. Atlanta seized the initiative early, and the result was never as close as the scoreline suggests. Some significant alterations are needed in the coming days before the Commanders take on the Los Angeles Chargers, who'll be looking to bounce back after their humbling loss to the New York Giants.

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