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

Nobody gave the Washington Commanders much hope of pulling off a significant upset against the Kansas City Chiefs. They were more competitive than expected in the first half, but a second-half meltdown condemned them to a third straight defeat.

It was yet another frustrating outing from the Commanders. They are constantly shooting themselves in the foot through lapses in concentration and poor communication in key moments. Jayden Daniels masked a lot of these issues last season, but the signal-caller wasn't around to save them this time.

The Chiefs completely overwhelmed Washington as the game went on. They controlled the tempo, made every big play count, and emerged as comfortable winners. As for the Commanders? They are now 3-5 with some tricky-looking games upcoming before their bye week.

A season that promised much is falling by the wayside, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Where the Commanders go from here is anyone's guess, but a massive effort is required to avoid things spiraling further.

That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are two winners and five losers from Washington's loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' prime time meltdown against the Chiefs

Loser No. 1

Preston Smith - Commanders DE

The Washington Commanders needed one of their pass-rushers to raise their influence in Week 8. Breakout edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. was ruled out for the entire campaign with a knee injury, leaving Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense with just three typical defensive ends to call upon.

This looked like a good opportunity for Preston Smith to cement his importance to the Commanders this season. A larger role was expected, but the veteran player once drafted by Washington didn't meet the required standards.

Smith failed to create pressure. Everything seems complicated for him at this stage of his career. His gap discipline against the run was poor, and at times, he overcommitted, leaving his side of the field exposed.

The Commanders had seen enough. They deployed Frankie Luvu more on the edge at Smith's expense. That is a damning indictment of how his performance was being perceived, and it remains to be seen what role he'll have in Washington moving forward.

In truth, the Coommanders don't have much choice other than to keep Smith on the rotation. Their options are threadbare at best, and general manager Adam Peters isn't in a position to be making bold trades before the deadline.

Smith had a massive opportunity in Week 8. He fluffed his lines.

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.

Loser No. 4

Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT

It's been a rollercoaster rookie campaign for Josh Conerly Jr. The No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft came through a severe baptism of fire over the opening few games. The progression was evident in the weeks after, but there are occasions when the right tackle becomes completely overwhelmed.

Unfortunately for Conerly and the Washington Commanders, this game was one of them. The Oregon product struggled to cope with the relentless edge rushers at the Kansas City Chiefs' disposal. He was constantly pushed off his spot, and things would have been much worse if not for Marcus Mariota's ability to escape pressure.

There were also communication issues pre-snap. Who was at fault for a crucial sack on Mariota that all but sealed Washington's fate is debatable. But when the entire offensive line shifts to the left and Conerly goes to the right, that's where the blame inevitably goes.

The Commanders are taking the rough with the smooth with Conerly. He'll be better for these experiences in the long term. Even so, there is a lot of hard work ahead to raise consistency.

Winner No. 2

Jeremy McNichols - Commanders RB

The Commanders were unable to establish their credentials on the ground. Washington's offensive line failed to generate the push needed consistently enough, which was a task made more difficult by the formidable left tackle Laremy Tunsil going out of the game early with a hamstring injury.

That negated seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt's influence. However, another running back flashed immense promise as the campaign progressed.

Jeremy McNichols became a valuable outlet for veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota in the passing game. He was always looking for ways to get open once plays broke down. He took short completions for decent gains, displaying aggressive after-the-catch tendencies that kept Kansas City's defense on its toes.

McNichols keeps hanging around, and he's gradually increasing his influence. The former Boise State standout led the team with five receptions for 64 receiving yards. There was also a lot to like about his pass blocking when called upon — something that could see his role increase moving forward.

Loser No. 5

Joe Whitt Jr. - Commanders DC

It must have been encouraging for Joe Whitt Jr. to see his defense come out on Monday Night Football with their hair on fire. Two early interceptions of Patrick Mahomes had the unit flying around the field, making things extremely difficult for the Chiefs to generate any early momentum.

The man coverage scheme was working. Whitt's subtle changes to personnel brought more dynamism and explosiveness into the equation. But even after such an impressive start, it was still a tie game at the half.

Things completely flipped in the second period. Andy Reid made the required adjustments and knew precisely how to attack Washington's soft, aging underbelly. Whitt moved to a more zone coverage alignment, and it didn't take long for the cracks to show.

The Chiefs' offense got whatever they wanted in the second half. They controlled the clock, dictated the tempo, ran the football effectively, and successfully secured several explosive plays. The number of busted coverages was embarrassing, and the Commanders had no answer for veteran tight end Travis Kelce despite his advancing years.

Whitt was outcoached and outsmarted in the second half. It's that simple.