After a sensational start to the season under the new regime, things are coming apart quickly for the Washington Commanders. All hope is not lost just yet, but their margin for error is gone.
Washington's postseason cushion in pursuit of a wildcard berth has been reduced to almost nothing. Unless they manage to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 13 at Northwest Stadium, it's almost guaranteed they'll be on the fringes for the first time in 2024 after their bye week.
Concerns are growing among the fanbase. Expectations rose considerably after a 7-2 start. People are now getting restless with the Commanders sitting at 7-5 heading into the business end of the campaign. Keeping this in the correct perspective is crucial.
Nobody expected the Commanders to be in this position after comprehensive changes from top to bottom across the franchise. They are ahead of schedule, but there is a significant amount of work ahead before this team can legitimately enter the Super Bowl picture under the power couple of general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.
The players also need to rise in the face of prolonged adversity for the first time. With that being said, here are five Commanders stars, including wide receiver Noah Brown, whose stock is plummeting after Washington's embarrassing Week 12 loss against the Dallas Cowboys.
Commanders players whose stock is plummeting after Week 12
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
Noah Brown gets plenty of targets. He makes good catches at times and continues to draw defensive pass-interference penalties. However, the Washington Commanders wide receiver is not the most consistent, especially in key moments.
Brown suffered another disappointing drop in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys. There was hope he could emerge into a dependable No. 2 wideout option alongside Terry McLaurin. There is enough evidence to suggest this scenario might not come to fruition.
The Commanders targeted Brown more than McLaurin once again in Week 12. Just why offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury continues with this approach is anyone's guess. It's something that has to change quickly if Washington's offense wants to get out of its current slump.
The former seventh-round pick out of Ohio State is a nice complimentary piece. It's also worth remembering that the Commanders aren't exactly blessed with wide receiver talent aside from McLaurin. At the same time, finding another prolific weapon for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will be one of Adam Peters' top priorities during the offseason.
Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL
Nick Allegretti began the season impressively. The interior offensive lineman hit the ground running following his free agency switch from the Kansas City Chiefs. His high-level work ethic and assured protection quickly became an integral part of the Washington Commanders' efficient offensive execution.
Things are starting to unravel for the typically consistent interior. Sam Cosmi and Tyler Biadasz also regressed against the Dallas Cowboys. Allegretti didn't stand out either, which came thanks to a small adjustment that saw All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons focus his attention on moving inside to avoid being chipped by running backs or tight ends.
This was something either Allegretti and Cosmi weren't ready for, or they didn't have the capabilities to counteract effectively. The former seventh-round selection is still having a decent season, but he needs to get back to his early form as a matter of urgency.
There is no respite for Allegretti this weekend when stud Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons comes to town. A huge effort is needed to turn this increasingly concerning tide.
Daron Payne - Commanders DL
Daron Payne had a huge opportunity awaiting him in Week 12. The formidable defensive lineman was going up a severely under-strength Cowboys' interior offensive line missing their two established starting guards. He'd never get a better chance to truly dominate a game versus Washington's fierce division rival.
It was a mission he couldn't accomplish. Payne was lackluster throughout, failing to generate pressure and not getting enough push against the run to further complicate matters. This went relatively overlooked compared to the offensive struggles, but it was deeply concerning upon further examination of the game film.
Payne is held to a higher standard than almost anybody. He's a seasoned veteran and one of the team's highest-paid stars. The Commanders needed him to step up after losing Jonathan Allen for the season. It's been largely underwhelming aside from a few flashes of dominance.
It makes no financial sense to trade or cut Payne after the season. However, his breakout campaign in 2022 en route to getting a megabucks contract looks like an anomaly rather than something fans can come to expect consistently.
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Benjamin St-Juste is going through some issues right now. The Washington Commanders recognized this too, giving the confidence-sapped cornerback a significantly reduced role during their Week 12 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium.
St-Juste played a season-low 58 percent of defensive snaps. His usage is steadily decreasing. The Commanders are also working out veteran free-agent cornerbacks in pursuit of finding better alternatives. That doesn't inspire much hope things can trend upward for the Minnesota product over the final five games of the regular season.
There are some bright moments from St-Juste, but he's always prone to giving up a big play through concentration lapses and poor technique. The former third-round selection is conceding 64.8 percent of targets and a 112.1 passer rating when targeted. These are the highest numbers since his rookie campaign.
This regression from St-Juste comes with terrible timing attached. The player is out of contract next spring, which should have provided some extra urgency to raise performance levels. That hasn't been the case, so it would be surprising to see general manager Adam Peters offer him a new deal before free agency arrives.
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
Considering how the Commanders are crying out for extra help in the passing game, it's bemusing to see Luke McCaffrey remain an afterthought. However, there might be more to it.
Either McCaffrey isn't showing enough to the coaching staff during practice and when his number is called on game days, or the trust just isn't there between the third-round pick and fellow rookie Jayden Daniels. That's arguably a bigger problem.
McCaffrey can get open. His separation rates remain high despite getting just 18 targets throughout the campaign. He brought in his only reception for eight receiving yards against the Dallas Cowboys from just 26 percent of Washington's offensive snaps. Another almost anonymous contribution when consistency was sorely lacking elsewhere.
Let's go back to Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey got three targets and was on the field for 61 percent of offensive snaps. That's not exactly the progression anybody had in mind.
Whether things continue similarly for McCaffrey over Washington's final five games remains to be seen. The Commanders wouldn't lose much by getting the Rice product more targets. If he doesn't take advantage, then normal service can resume.