Winner No. 4
Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB
Bobby Wagner might be firmly in his career twilight. However, this exceptional showing proved just how valuable he remains to the Washington Commanders.
There was an extra spring in Wagner's step, and with good reason. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker came up against his old head coach, Pete Carroll, and he wanted to put on a show. What followed was an outstanding performance that set the tone for others to follow.
Wagner was always around the action. He communicated exceptionally pre-snap and even managed to generate pressure when opportunities arose. It was a well-rounded, superb contribution that proves beyond all doubt that there is a lot of good football left in the tank.
The former Utah State standout accumulated 11 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. Wagner was nothing short of relentless. Hopefully, this will be the start of great things to come.
Loser No. 2
Brandon Coleman - Commanders OL
The Commanders caused a stir before the game when Brandon Coleman was a healthy scratch. Most fans initially thought that it might have something to do with the shoulder injury he was carrying throughout the week. However, it quickly became apparent that this was a coaching decision.
Coleman's switch from the edge to the interior hasn't gone according to plan. While there are tremendous flashes on running plays, his technique in pass protection became an ongoing frustration. With Marcus Mariota under center and the need for extra stability, the coaching staff sent the 2024 third-round selection to the fringes.
This decision reaped rewards. We've already spoken about Chris Paul's outstanding contribution throughout. With Andrew Wylie manning the right guard position, the entire protection looked a lot more solid. Josh Conerly Jr. had some wayward moments, but it could have been a lot worse against four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Where Coleman goes from here is anyone's guess, but it's unlikely Paul will be benched after this showing.
Winner No. 5
Daron Payne - Commanders DL
When Daron Payne plays well, it changes everything. The formidable defensive tackle is tough to stop when firing on all cylinders. Simply put, the Raiders had no answer.
Payne was relentless throughout. He was constantly pushing the pile, creating havoc and making things extremely uncomfortable for Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith. It seemed like on every key down and distance, the former Alabama standout was chasing the signal-caller out of the pocket to disrupt the play.
This was a dominant performance from Payne. He's now put together two exceptional performances out of three games, which is highly encouraging. Maintaining this consistency is the next challenge, but it's hard to deny how influential he could become if the same trend continues.
Although Payne finished the game with six tackles, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for loss, these statistics don't fully capture the impact he had as a game-changer at Northwest Stadium.