Loser No. 2
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
Chris Paul is a liability. Almost every big moment that's hurt the Washington Commanders this season has come down to his inability to block effectively. And if the team had any viable alternatives, he would be sitting on the bench right now.
Had five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil not gotten hurt, Paul may have been a reserve this season. Brandon Coleman was beating him out for the left guard job this summer before being forced onto the blindside. That isn't going well, but the Tulsa product is faring even worse inside.
Paul delivered another disappointing performance. His pass-blocking was lackluster. There was hesitancy in his run blocking, and his lack of discipline in critical moments hurt the Commanders at the worst possible time.
With Washington's bye week now here, the coaching staff must think long and hard about removing Paul from the lineup.
Winner No. 2
Sonny Styles - Commanders LB
If this seems like a recurring theme, that's because it is.
Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles is not your average first-year player. And the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft turned in another outstanding display with a prime-time audience watching.
Styles was the only defender who stood up to the San Francisco 49ers offense in the first half. He was relentless, always around the action, and racked up 12 tackles early in the third quarter. He also made an exceptional play in coverage on wide receiver Mike Evans, further boosting his impact.
The same trend continued after the break. Only this time, his teammates stepped up their respective games to get the Commanders back into the contest. It wasn't quite enough in the end, but the Ohio State product only cemented his credentials as a long-term cornerstone piece in Washington.
This was the right pick, and Styles is moving like an elite difference-maker already.
Loser No. 3
Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT
The Commanders have seen some encouraging growth from right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in Year 2 of his professional career. He's looked assured on the edge, more technically sound, and much stronger than at any point during his rookie campaign.
Unfortunately, this wasn't Conerly's best performance. In fact, it was easily his worst of the season so far.
Conerly struggled to get into his pass-blocking sets and was easily overawed. Pressure came from all angles, especially in the first half, and he struggled to cope.
A couple of frustrating penalties hurt, and when the Commanders needed their offensive line to hold their ground on the final play, just three rushers broke them up.
The 2025 first-round pick will be the first to admit he could have done better. But fortunately, there is enough good tape to suggest this is merely a blip for Conerly, not the start of anything more concerning.
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