2 winners (and 5 losers) from Commanders' prime time meltdown against Chiefs

Loser No. 2

Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR

This was always going to be a game of razor-thin margins for the Washington Commanders. They came into the contest short-handed versus a team in red-hot form. Anything less than supreme execution across all phases would carry severe ramifications.

Sadly, that didn't happen. This moment proved too big for rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane, whose error-prone outing represented a stain on his recent improvements.

The fourth-round selection fumbled a critical kickoff return out of bounds, leaving the Commanders starting a drive where they desperately needed points on the one-yard line. Lane followed this up a few plays later with an unacceptable drop. He brought in a target after that but failed to gain any positive yardage.

This is all part of Lane's learning experience. He's still growing as a player, and there will be difficult moments. At the same time, he's got enough athleticism and elusiveness to become an asset with additional polish.

Winner No. 1

Jacob Martin - Commanders DE

There weren't many reasons for Commanders fans to cheer, especially during the second half. They performed far better than anyone expected over the opening two quarters. But once they were forced to chase the game, the same complications soon arose.

Some encouraging signs did emerge amid the doom and gloom. The Commanders needed one of their few edge rushers to step up in the wake of Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. Jacob Martin led the rallying cry before the contest and brought that aggressive passion onto the field.

Martin was the only player who seemed capable of generating consistent pressure. He gave left tackle Jaylon Moore a torrid time in the opening exchanges, overwhelming him with an impressive blend of power, explosiveness, and drive. Finishing the game with two sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits was a big positive. Unfortunately, it didn't affect the eventual outcome.

The free-agent signing is doing enough to start. Martin might also be on his way to getting another contract at season's end if the same trend continues.

Loser No. 3

Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB

Bobby Wagner gained his customary 10 tackles. He even secured an interception after tight end Travis Kelce failed to bring in a target. But once again, the veteran linebacker's glaring weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed by the Chiefs.

Wagner is at the end of his first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career. He's done remarkably well to play so long, but Father Time catches up to everyone in the end. He's often tackling oncoming runners from behind after failing to reach the contact point quickly enough. And his coverage frailties were notable.

The six-time All-Pro is a yard off and more these days. Wagner doesn't have the speed to keep up with anybody. The anticipation and reactions to the route have waned to deeply concerning levels. There were positional errors throughout, and the saddest scene of all was seeing the second-level presence lined up against wide receiver Rashee Rice for his touchdown.

This is a huge problem. The Commanders need to take sentiment out of the equation and do the right thing.

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