5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' win at the Bengals in Week 3
By Dean Jones
Loser No. 1
Commanders cornerbacks
It wasn't all sweetness and light for the Washington Commanders in Week 3. Their defensive frailties were on full display right out of the gate. This meant a quick change of pace, with those in power deciding to turn this contest into a shootout to compensate for their defensive deficiencies.
Washington's cornerbacks didn't cover themselves in glory, especially on the outside. Mike Sainristil and Benjamin St-Juste both got burned for big touchdowns courtesy of All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Joe Burrow carved them up from the first whistle, gaining 324 passing yards and three scores from 29 completions. Fortunately for the Commanders, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels matched him every step of the way.
Winning papers over the cracks, but the pass defense has the scope to hold Washington back from becoming one of the league's surprise packages. Options on the free-agent market are slim. General manager Adam Peters could examine potential trade options, but that seems unlikely considering his desire to stockpile picks as part of his long-term plan.
The Commanders do have Emmanuel Forbes Jr. to come back. But looking at his Week 1 performance before injuring his thumb, it would be a monumental turnaround if he influenced proceedings effectively.
Winner No. 2
Kliff Kingsbury - Commanders OC
Cam Taylor-Britt caused a stir before the contest, claiming Kliff Kingsbury's offense was predictable and something more akin to the college level rather than the pros. Although the offensive coordinator had every right to keep things simple for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels during his important early transition, these comments did not go unnoticed by the Commanders.
Kingsbury answered Taylor-Britt's criticism in the best possible way. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach called a masterful game from start to finish. Washington's offense was balanced, taking advantage of opportunities underneath, remaining stubborn with the run game, and maximizing downfield shots when chances arose. They moved the chains at will and didn't punt for the second consecutive week. More importantly, the Commanders picked up a statement win.
Any doubts should officially be silenced, even if Taylor-Britt doubled down on his original statement following the clash. That will be of no concern to Kingsbury, who's enhancing his reputation as an exceptional quarterback developer and bolstering his chances of getting a second head coaching gig along the way.
Revenge will be on Kingsbury's mind next time out when the Commanders travel to the team that fired him after the 2022 season. But one could forgive the play-caller for feeling a little smug after Taylor-Britt's critique.