Loser No. 4
Joe Whitt Jr. - Commanders DC
The Washington Commanders moved Joe Whitt Jr. from the booth to the sideline in one final roll of the dice in Week 10. Dan Quinn wanted to keep a closer eye on the defensive coordinator, and he thought this switch would help improve the communication in the game-day pressure cooker.
Quinn's gamble backfired. The same defensive frailties emerged, and Whitt cut a dejected figure on the sidelines. He knew that his unit didn't have a chance, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
Time is running out for Whitt. Most fans have already decided that a fresh start would be the best possible solution for all parties. Quinn's been reluctant to make any coaching changes in-season. But with one contest remaining before the bye week, that could be the time for a shake-up.
For all the Miami Dolphins' faults, their offense can put up points in a hurry when they are firing on all cylinders. That doesn't bode well for Whitt, whose job status is hanging by a thread.
Winner No. 2
Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
Jayden Daniels will be missing for the foreseeable future after dislocating his elbow. And judging by how things are free-falling for the Commanders right now, there is a high probability that fans won't see the dynamic quarterback again in 2025.
The Commanders were relying on Marcus Mariota to keep this competitive. He's a dependable backup who can manage games effectively, but Washington's woeful defense meant he was always fighting a losing battle.
Mariota played well. It got lost amid yet another embarrassing defeat, but the former Oregon standout was way down the list of Washington's problems at Northwest Stadium.
He navigated the pocket nicely. Mariota took shots downfield with great success. While the Lions took their foot off the gas in the second half, there was a lot to like about the accuracy and velocity on his throws.
Mariota threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He secured a 133.3 passer rating, and his QBR was 82.8. And yet, the Commanders still got blown out.
Loser No. 5
Frankie Luvu - Commanders LB
Frankie Luvu's sensational impact on the Washington Commanders last season spearheaded their renaissance. He earned second-team All-Pro honors, emerging as one of the league's most imposing linebackers en route to becoming the beating heart of Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit.
This is not the same player. Luvu's role has changed, stemming from injuries that exposed Washington's lack of edge-rushing depth. It has not had the desired effect, and there is hesitancy where once there was nothing but conviction.
The Washington State product isn't operating with the same explosiveness. Luvu's angles in pursuit have regressed considerably. He's missing an astonishing amount of tackles, and the spark that propelled him to prominence last time around has deserted him.
Others in the linebacking corps aren't exactly shining either, but more was expected of Luvu. The Commanders need to get back to what made him special in 2024, which centers on operating with freedom and instinctiveness.