5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' win at the Cardinals in Week 4

This season is rapidly turning into a joyous dream for the Washington Commanders. Head coach Dan Quinn's squad built on their sensational Monday Night Football triumph at the Cincinnati Bengals with another dominant road performance, easily disposing of the Arizona Cardinals to take sole custody of the NFC East lead after four games.

The Commanders have now won three straight contests and look completely revitalized under the new regime. Fans are galvanized and excited for the future. This is a team heading in the right direction, and they're only going to improve further with more familiarity.

Washington was heavily reliant on its offense once again. However, this was a more balanced contribution from the Commanders' other two phases that played a leading role in another outstanding success.

The atmosphere at Northwest Stadium next weekend against the Cleveland Browns is going to be electric. Taking advantage of it and building additional momentum is crucial. But looking at how things are currently moving, one cannot be anything other than thrilled with the progress made in such a short space of time.

With this in mind, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's incredible win at State Farm Stadium in Week 4.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' win at the Cardinals

Winner No. 1

Commanders offensive line

Jayden Daniels is gaining the limelight, as is typically the case with quarterbacks. However, the Washington Commanders' offensive line deserves enormous credit for the way they've come together in a relatively short space of time.

This looks like a functional unit within a scheme well suited to their strengths. There were no weak links at the Arizona Cardinals. They didn't allow a sack. Brandon Coleman and Cornelius Lucas didn't allow a single pressure as they shared blindside responsibilities once again.

Washington's interior continued its exceptional start to the campaign. There was a slight scare when left guard Nick Allegretti went out with an ankle injury, but he alleviated concerns after the game after X-rays came back negative.

Even much-maligned right tackle Andrew Wylie is providing assured protection for Daniels to thrive. The offensive line went from a weak link to an area of strength in the blink of an eye. Bobby Johnson took some heat with the New York Giants, but he's proving his doubters wrong.

Loser No. 1

Dante Fowler Jr. - Commanders OLB

The Washington Commanders finally got things going defensively after an indifferent start. This was a huge positive and kept star quarterback Kyler Murray in check for the most part. There wasn't much they could do to prevent James Conner from doing damage, but the running back's influence waned once the score got out of hand.

If there was one negative throughout the contest, and for a large part of the season, it's the minimal production offered by Dante Fowler Jr. The outside linebacker is finding life tough generating pressure. Perhaps more concerning is his inability to set the edge effectively against the run.

There's still time for Fowler to make an impression. His role is more rotational in any case, but the Commanders brought him in to make a difference. Something he just isn't doing right now.

Nobody is pressing the panic button just yet. But if Fowler cannot turn things around in the coming weeks, it might force general manager Adam Peters into making a move before the trade deadline to bolster their edge rushing options.

Winner No. 2

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

The Commanders are reportedly looking to add another wide receiver before the trade deadline. Whether general manager Adam Peters finds the right character that fits into his long-term plans remains to be seen, but there's a lot to like about how different complementary pieces are stepping up to provide support to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Pro Bowl pass-catcher Terry McLaurin.

It was Olamide Zaccheaus' turn at the Cardinals. The wideout earned his spot on the roster over training camp and maximized increased involvement in this one. The former undrafted free agent out of Virginia played with an urgency and fire that was hard not to love. There was a silly taunting penalty as one blemish, but it was an outstanding contribution aside from that.

Zaccheaus hauled in all six of his targets for 85 receiving yards. This added another wrinkle to Washington's high-octane offense, one Arizona didn't look ready for with Daniels providing surgeon-like precision under center.

The Commanders have shown a willingness to provide every wideout with an opportunity to showcase their credentials. Zaccheaus took full advantage, which will give opposing defenses even more headaches as the campaign goes on.

Winner No. 3

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

It's hard to find new superlatives for Jayden Daniels. The rookie quarterback continued his historic start to the campaign in Week 4 at the Arizona Cardinals, turning in another high-quality performance to spearhead an outstanding road victory.

This is no flash in the pan. Daniels is the real deal.

He wasn't flawless, throwing his first interception as an NFL pro. But it was pretty close. Daniels was exceptional, displaying the poise, accuracy, and pocket presence normally associated with savvy veterans rather than those looking to make their way in the league. His fourth-quarter drive that concluded with a Terry McLaurin touchdown was proof the Washington Commanders have a genuine superstar on their hands.

Daniels is playing with a swagger and confidence that is inspiring the entire franchise. From the players to the coaches and fans, the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU is dragging this storied organization up from the proverbial abyss and back to respectability. General manager Adam Peters has to be feeling pretty good about his choice at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft that's for sure. And he's just getting started.

The Commanders have a franchise quarterback at long last. That feels good to say.

Winner No. 4

Commanders defense

The Commanders' defense didn't start well. Their first-quarter efforts looked more of the same and fans were wondering if this was going to be another shootout in pursuit of victory. But whatever defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and his staff said to them after that worked like a charm.

This was a completely different unit for the remainder of the contest. The Commanders were energized, explosive, and accomplished. It seemed like the light finally came on as a unit, which was arguably the biggest positive above all else based on how things unfolded over the opening three games of the campaign.

The standard has now been set. Washington's tone-setters showed up, with the likes of Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, Jeremy Chinn, and Dorance Armstrong Jr. flying around the field. Praise must also be given to the cornerbacks, who held the Cardinals in check for the most part after struggling to find their feet to begin the season.

If the Commanders want to meet some ever-increasing expectations, they need everyone firing on all cylinders. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but this was a definite step in the right direction.

Winner No. 5

Kliff Kingsbury - Commanders OC

Kliff Kingsbury's offense was criticized for being too bland and college-like earlier in the season. If that was enough to light a spark under the offensive coordinator and open things up, it could be the best thing that happens to the Washington Commanders this season.

Kingsbury was looking after rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early on, which should not come with any criticism whatsoever. Once everyone got on the same page and built sufficient chemistry, a little extra freedom and creativity followed.

The Commanders' offense was nothing short of relentless once again, gaining 449 total yards from nine drives and scoring 42 points along the way. They were 9-of-12 on third downs, 4-of-5 in the red zone, and Kingsbury came up with some masterful play-calls in key moments to put an exclamation point on proceedings.

This probably meant a little more to Kingsbury than most. He was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals after the 2022 season despite taking them to the playoffs once upon a time. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and that's exactly how he's approached matters since arriving in Washington.

If the same trend continues, it won't be much longer before another head coaching opportunity arrives.

Loser No. 2

Dan Snyder - Former Commanders owner

Dan Snyder demoralized the Commanders franchise over 20 years. Josh Harris' ownership group has transformed it in a few short months.

It's not hard. Implement the right infrastructure. Hire genuine football men and let them handle the decision-making process. Support them with whatever they need no matter the cost. It's not that difficult, yet it was something Snyder never seemed to master.

Harris spared no expense this week when head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters wanted the Commanders to spend the week in Arizona following Monday Night Football. They stayed in a hotel and trained at Arizona State in readiness for the contest. This paid off in the best possible way with a sensational showing at State Farm Stadium.

What Snyder makes of this - or whether he cares - is up for debate. But one could forgive the former owner for looking back with envious glances and wondering what might have been had he done things differently with an organization he supposedly followed avidly before assuming ownership.

No fan will be caring about that or looking back. This is all about the future. And what a bright one it could be.

More Commanders news and analysis