Winner No. 1
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
There were a few positives to take from the contest. While the result didn't end up going the Washington Commanders' way when push came to shove, some players did perform to the level expected on a disappointing evening overall.
Not for the first time this season, rookie cornerback Trey Amos was a shining light amid the doom and gloom. The No. 61 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft is starting to look like a bona fide steal. He turned in another assured performance in coverage, mirroring receivers well and attacking the football with dynamism when targets came his way.
Again, there is some refinement needed against the run, but Amos is slowly progressing in this area. He remains Washington's most consistent cornerback, which is a damning indictment of others but a true reflection of his outstanding transition from college to the pros.
The tests keep coming for Amos, with the Dallas Cowboys' high-octane passing attack next on the agenda.
Loser No. 2
Commanders defensive front
It was hard to single out anyone on Washington's defensive front, so we'll put them all together. This was arguably their worst performance of the campaign so far, and it all started with their failure to stop the run.
The Chicago Bears were there for the taking. They had a struggling, injury-prone right tackle and a former undrafted free agent manning the blindside. Unfortunately for the Commanders, they were not at the races from the outset in this one.
They lost gap discipline on running plays. Veteran running back D'Andre Swift carved up the Commanders to the tune of 108 rushing yards from just 14 carries. Washington lost the line of scrimmage, and they paid a heavy price.
This was a wake-up call. Losing Dorance Armstrong Jr. for spells of the game wasn't ideal, but the Commanders were second best even when he was on the field. They've got enough experience within the group to bounce back, but this trend cannot continue.
Winner No. 2
Zach Ertz - Commanders TE
The Commanders were under-strength in the passing game once again. Terry McLaurin was missing his third-straight contest, and Noah Brown hasn't been seen since Week 2. Deebo Samuel Sr. suited up, but it was clear that the wideout wasn't his usual explosive self as his influence waned.
Washington needed others to step up and fill the void. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz stepped up, giving Jayden Daniels a proper outlet over the short to intermediate levels of the field in pursuit of keeping the chains moving.
This was Ertz's best overall performance of the season. He brought in all six of his targets for 43 receiving yards and one touchdown. The three-time Pro Bowler also lent his assistance in the blocking game, which was needed despite the presence of John Bates and Ben Sinnott to occupy these responsibilities.
Not many shone through the wind and rain with the national NFL audience watching on. Ertz was among them.