Who were the big winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' overtime defeat at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4?
Although the Washington Commanders put a monumental effort together at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, it didn't result in anything more than a second loss in the column, But as far as defeats go, this one had a lot of positives attached.
The Commanders took a team expected to make a deep postseason run all the way before eventually falling in overtime. Had a couple of suspect decisions gone Washington's way things might have been different, but there is no time to dwell on this loss with the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football firmly in the team's sights.
Such a quick turnaround could go either way more often than not. Finding the right balance between rest and preparation is the typical recipe for success, which is the latest big test for head coach Ron Rivera to overcome in the coming days.
Before attention quickly shifts, here are five winners and losers from the Commanders' loss at Lincoln Financial Field.
Winner No. 1
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
It came as no surprise to see Terry McLaurin look to establish himself right from the outset. The wide receiver was heavily involved immediately and came up with some huge plays throughout the contest for good measure.
Things could have been much different had McLaurin's overtime catch not been ruled out by the finest of margins. His foot looked in by all accounts, but head coach Ron Rivera revealed after the game that the officials declared they didn't have enough evidence to overrule their initial call.
That was the one disappointing element to take from McLaurin's performance through no real fault of his own. But with eight receptions from 10 targets for 86 receiving yards versus a top-level secondary, the former Ohio State star can look back on his performance with a sense of pride.
Loser No. 1
Emmanuel Forbes - Commanders CB
Emmanuel Forbes has all the athletic gifts one looks for in a potential NFL shutdown cornerback. However, it was a rough afternoon at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
Forbes was targeted heavily by the Eagles' passing attack throughout. He had some nice moments - especially over intermediate routes - but he was also burned plenty when going up against stud wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Just why defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio continued to put Forbes on Brown given the way things were unfolding is anyone's guess. The wideout's physicality and route-running prowess were simply too much for the former Mississippi State standout to cope with so early into his NFL journey, which unfortunately became a real weak link.
The Washington Commanders defense is not thriving right now. This is the last thing many analysts projected - especially after such a dominant first game - so adjustments must be made for this group to finally start realizing their undoubted potential.
As for Forbes, nobody was expecting miracles right away. Head coach Ron Rivera freely admitted that the Commanders should expect some difficulties as the rookie transitions to a professional environment, but to deem him a bust just four weeks into his career is absolutely asinine.
Forbes has the skill set to bounce back. But it'll be interesting to see if other teams adopt a similar approach after seeing him struggle versus Brown.
Winner No. 2
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
All eyes were on quarterback Sam Howell to see if he could respond in the face of adversity for the first time in his professional career. The Washington Commanders overall laid a complete dud against the Buffalo Bills, but questions were raised about the signal-caller's ability to see the field and ability to protect the football.
Thankfully, Howell answered these concerns emphatically at the Philadelphia Eagles. The former fifth-round selection put together a masterful performance in a hostile environment, demonstrating all the necessary qualities the Commanders were looking for when they gave him a chance to be their franchise presence under center.
Howell's accuracy was first-class at all three levels. He recognized pressure more effectively, got the football out quicker within a more beneficial scheme, and had the nous to get rid of the ball when things weren't developing as anticipated.
Perhaps more significant was Howell's ability to come through in the clutch. His poise over the final drive during regulation was exemplary and had Terry McLaurin's overtime catch not been waved off, another fairytale story could have emerged rather than a gut-wrenching loss.
The North Carolina product said after the game that the result is all that matters. Once Howell calms down and reflects, he can take a great deal from not only this performance but his first four games of the campaign overall.
Loser No. 2
Jack Del Rio - Commanders DC
One could point fingers at Jamin Davis and Cody Barton from the linebacking corps for putting together yet another dismal effort, but that's a broken record at this point. Therefore, we'll spend some time focusing on defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
The Washington Commanders have far too much talent on defense to be underperforming like this. They've given up 104 points over the last three games and there seems to be almost no innovation whatsoever to the game plans from week to week, which is a real concern.
Del Rio needs to carry the can for this. He is a former head coach with vast experience of running defenses, but there also seems to be a reluctance when it comes to moving with the times and coming up with formulas to counteract how things are unfolding around the league.
This inability to change is hurting some gifted players - many of whom are looking to get paid during or after the current campaign. Del Rio needs to find ways to maximize the weapons at his disposal, which starts this Thursday night during a winnable game against the Chicago Bears at FedEx Field with the entire NFL world watching.
Anything less than significant adjustments indicates that Del Rio feels like there's nothing wrong with his current schematic concepts. Looking at his things have unfolded in recent weeks, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Winner No. 3
Eric Bieniemy - Commanders OC
If Jack Del Rio is having trouble adjusting to ever-changing times, that cannot be said of Eric Bieniemy. The play-caller came in for criticism regarding a lack of offensive balance last time out against the Buffalo Bills, but what fans witnessed in Week 4 was far more encouraging.
Bieniemy schemed things up extremely well. This was a tall order going up versus a formidable Philadelphia Eagles defense with weapons everywhere you look, but they were on the back foot immediately thanks to the Washington Commanders' opening two drives going for touchdowns.
This trend continued throughout the game, which proves this offense has unreal potential under Bieniemy's guidance. The offensive coordinator put Sam Howell in manageable situations and relied on the run despite facing a stout defensive front. There was even time for a gamble or two along the way to keep the Eagles on their toes.
Of course, this wasn't enough to emerge with what would have been a priceless win against divisional opposition. However, the Commanders' offense was far from the biggest issue behind their narrow demise.
Bieniemy called for calm last week in the immediate aftermath of such a humbling loss versus the Bills. This clearly resonated with his players and the offense was efficient enough to suggest more profitability could be on the way when the struggling Chicago Bears come to town.