Who were the big winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' heavy defeat against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 at FedEx Field?
After a positive start to the 2023 campaign, the Washington Commanders got a harsh reality check in Week 3. The Buffalo Bills had their way with Ron Rivera's men from the first snap to the last, demonstrating fully how far this team is from becoming a postseason force for good measure.
The Commanders still have a winning record after three games, which is better than many anticipated. That said, improvements must be made and quickly to ensure no significant momentum is lost despite such an emphatic drubbing.
It promises to be a difficult couple of days when it comes to evaluating the wreckage of this one. Some took more blame than others, but there were a few bright spots thrown into the mix that represented slight encouragement amid so much misery.
With this in mind, here are five winners and losers from the Commanders' hammering against the Bills at FedEx Field.
Winner No. 1
Camaron Cheeseman - Commanders LS
In a game where there were very few positives, the Washington Commanders can at least take solace from Camaron Cheeseman's production when called upon. The microscope was on the long-snapper after a series of subpar performances, which even saw the coaching staff bring in several alternatives for workouts in the event things continued following the same concerning trend.
It was an extremely small sample size, but Cheeseman didn't botch any snaps this week. That can be classed as a win during an otherwise abysmal afternoon at the office.
Loser No. 1
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
When the Washington Commanders spent a big chunk of what little money was available in free agency on Andrew Wylie, it was a head-scratcher to many. While the offensive tackle was coming off a Super Bowl-winning campaign with the Kansas City Chiefs, his production wasn't exactly stellar despite a strong outing against the Philadelphia Eagles on the grandest stage of all.
Wylie's close relationship with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy factored into his arrival in Washington. However, what we've seen so far has done nothing to alleviate concerns surrounding the edge protector's ability to provide the consistency needed.
The former Eastern Michigan star was lackluster at best versus the Buffalo Bills. Wylie struggled to maintain his stance in the face of significant pressure, was slow getting off the block, and seemed to constantly miss assignments to make life more difficult for quarterback Sam Howell.
Washington gave Wylie a three-year, $24 million deal with an $8 million signing bonus and $12 million guaranteed this offseason. The Commanders haven't seen a decent return on their investment as yet, which once again calls into question Ron Rivera's recruitment ethos across the offensive line.
Wylie must put this performance behind him. Because if he plays like this at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, their stout defensive front will pick him apart early and often.
Winner No. 2
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
Getting down early has become synonymous with the Washington Commanders this season. Against a top-level outfit like the Buffalo Bills, this was always going to leave them facing a steep mountain to climb.
Playing from behind also negates the running attack to a certain extent. This was evident throughout the first half before Eric Bieniemy attempted to set the tone after the break with the passing game faltering.
Again, the positives were few and far between. However, the production of Brian Robinson Jr. once again caught the eye as the former third-round selection continued his impressive start to the season.
While Robinson accumulated just ten carries throughout the contest, he gained 70 rushing yards. This was another decent return, so why the Commanders don't lean on the Alabama product more heavily over the opening stages of games remains a mystery.
Instead of trying to establish the run in the second half, Bieniemy and the Commanders should switch the narrative and set the tone right from the outset of contests. Robinson's already proven capable of shouldering a heavy workload and aside from perhaps Terry McLaurin, is the team's most productive weapon on offense currently.
Robinson looks every bit like the lead running back Washington hoped for. It's keeping him involved after inept starts that represents the biggest complication currently.
Loser No. 2
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
Sam Howell was riding on the crest of a wave heading into Week 3. His performance at the Denver Broncos was nothing short of exceptional - although it does need to newfound context attached considering how Sean Payton's defense just gave up a mammoth 70 points to the Miami Dolphins.
The Washington Commanders didn't get enough from Howell against the Buffalo Hills, who terrorized the young signal-caller throughout. He was hesitant in the pocket, didn't get off reads quickly enough, and coughed the football up way too much for a legitimate starting NFL quarterback.
Howell had some nice moments, but the bad far outweighed the good. This was a steep learning curve for the former fifth-round pick, who couldn't keep up with Josh Allen's production as the Commanders fell by the wayside quickly.
The North Carolina product took full accountability for the team's failings. Ron Rivera also stated that Howell doesn't make the same mistake twice from game to game. but his pocket awareness has to progress quickly heading into the most intimidating atmosphere imaginable at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
This is a stern test of Howell's character. He's had things all his own way as a starter to date, so how he bounces back in the face of adversity will tell us plenty about his prospects as the Commanders' long-term option at football's most pivotal position.
Loser No. 3
Darrick Forrest - Commanders S
Much was expected of the Washington Commanders secondary given their vast improvements throughout the offseason. In light of this, Darrick Forrest is the final loser from Sunday's game over linebacker Cody Barton, who looks like a lost cause despite leading the team in tackles once again.
Forrest is a gifted individual - he's proven as much since being installed into the starting lineup. However, things haven't gone according to plan for the safety so far this season and one could make a strong case for Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills being the worst performance to date.
Whether it's the scheme not suiting Forrest's skill set or the fact those on the backend are trying to make up for deficiencies at the defensive second level, something's not right. The former fifth-round pick looked lost in coverage more often than not, giving up a touchdown early and appearing hesitant from an anticipation point of view compared to his usual high standards.
Again, this is probably nothing more than a blip rather than anything serious. Forrest is a determined character with proven athletic intangibles in a regular-season environment, so fans should expect the Cincinnati product to bounce back at the earliest possible opportunity.
Jack Del Rio's defensive scheme didn't help his players whatsoever in this one. Unfortunately for Forrest, he suffered more than most.