The Washington Commanders had a chance to lay down their biggest marker yet during their trip to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football. This was billed as a mouth-watering clash between two teams vying for NFC East supremacy. It didn't live up to the hype.
More importantly for the Commanders, it ended with defeat.
If last weekend's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers could have been avoided, head coach Dan Quinn's men didn't deserve anything from this one. Their spark was missing despite an improved defensive effort, leaving them at 7-4 on the season with two games remaining until their long-awaited bye week.
They've come a long way in a short space of time. This disappointing reverse was more proof of how far away the Commanders are from those with legitimate Super Bowl credentials. That's the hard truth, even if it stings more amid increased expectations following Washington's incredible start.
There is still all to play for. The Commanders might have fallen behind within the division, but a wildcard berth is still well within their capabilities. Washington's schedule isn't especially daunting moving forward, so hope is far from lost.
That's for the future. For now, here are three winners and four losers from the Commanders' defeat at the Eagles in Week 11.
Winners and losers from Commanders' defeat at the Eagles
Loser No. 1
Commanders offensive line
It's been an encouraging campaign overall for the Washington Commanders offensive line. This fell flat versus the Philadelphia Eagles with the national spotlight glaring.
The Eagles' defensive front seven had their way with Washington's protection. Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie had a rough evening on the edges. Things weren't much better on the interior, with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis dominating proceedings from the outset.
Washington's offense was disjointed. The short week and conservative scheme weren't a recipe for success. It didn't help that the protection in front of Jayden Daniels was subpar, which is something that factored into the signal-caller's inability to get into a rhythm.
Hopefully, this is merely a blip rather than the start of something more concerning. Washington's offensive line is beaten up and in dire need of a break. They have a mini-bye before taking on the Dallas Cowboys, so one would expect them to respond positively despite coming up against the likes of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB
There weren't many bright spots offensively for the Washington Commanders in Week 11. It was a lackluster outing for the most part, but Austin Ekeler was one of perhaps two individuals who emerged from the contest with credit.
It's hard to fathom how bad things would have been in the passing game had it not been for Ekeler providing security out of the backfield. He was the Commanders' one source of comfort amid the chaos. The veteran running back made his targets count. He also continued his outstanding contribution in the return game for good measure.
Ekeler brought in eight catches from nine targets for 89 receiving yards. He only got two carries on the ground despite being on the field plenty, which is something Kliff Kingsbury might want to have back considering he was the only player causing any problems to the Philadelphia Eagles defense.
Winning is all that matters to Ekeler. At the same time, this game represented another fine example of why the Commanders brought him into the fold. His role will be integral as Washington looks to get out of its current slump.
Loser No. 2
Kliff Kingsbury - Commanders OC
Kliff Kingsbury's left a hugely positive impression since his decision to spurn the Las Vegas Raiders in favor of the Commanders. The offensive coordinator is building up his reputation and was touted by many to be a potential head coaching candidate in 2025 if the same trend continues. This game was not his finest hour.
Kingsbury put the shackles on his offense with an approach that quickly became way too conservative. The innovation and progressive concepts that saw the Commanders come to life earlier in the campaign weren't utilized. Aside from the pony personnel increase - which is two running backs on the field - the creativity was sorely lacking.
The Commanders stuttered accordingly. Their third-down offense was abysmal and Kingsbury had no answers for what Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was throwing at him. When they decided to go for the bold fourth-down call, the execution typified how things went during an underwhelming evening at the office.
This was extremely disappointing considering the high stakes attached. Kingsbury must regroup and find better solutions when the Dallas Cowboys come to town in Week 12. Because the Commanders cannot afford to drop another divisional game in their quest for the postseason.
Winner No. 2
Frankie Luvu - Commanders LB
Despite the eventual outcome in Week 11 at the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Commanders were competitive for most of the game. This was thanks in no small part to their defensive performance before things got away from them late.
Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit is coming along nicely after a rough start. Although the Commanders didn't win on Thursday Night Football, this was an undoubted positive to take from a body blow to the team's NFC East championship hopes.
To nobody's surprise, Frankie Luvu was at the heart of everything good. The ferocious linebacker was right at the top of his game from the outset, displaying his customary explosiveness and relentless work ethic that has been a joy to watch so far this season.
Luvu eventually finished the game with 10 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits as a result of his exceptional efforts. General manager Adam Peters made some outstanding additions in free agency. Making the former undrafted free agent out of Washington State one of the team's top priorities was arguably the best.
Loser No. 3
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
Jayden Daniels has been a revelation since the Commanders took the dynamic quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for everyone associated with the franchise, this was the worst output of his professional career by a considerable margin.
The typically composed Daniels looked hesitant throughout versus an outstanding Eagles defense. His running ability was negated for a second straight week. The velocity and timing associated with his distribution deserted him on the primetime stage. There was a lack of comfort within a scheme that was more conservative than usual.
This had a similar feel to Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels couldn't string two passes together behind an offensive line that chose a bad time to collectively crumble. Many wondered if the rib issue was playing a part in the cold Philadelphia climate, but the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU wasn't looking for excuses after the contest.
It was a step back for Daniels. It was also his second indifferent performance in succession. While slightly concerning, pressing the panic button would be foolish.
There's a little extra time to rest and recuperate before Washington's home game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. Bouncing back is crucial.
Winner No. 3
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
Mike Sainristil went through some rookie jitters as expected to begin the campaign. This is typical for fledgling cornerbacks aside from the truly elite prospects. However, the Washington Commanders must be thrilled with what they've seen from the second-round selection in recent weeks.
Sainristil's performance at the Philadelphia Eagles was arguably his best so far. The former Michigan standout accepted the challenge of going up versus two outstanding wideouts - A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He didn't have it all his way - nobody does against this duo - but the first-year pro more than stood up to the test.
The Commanders' defense played well. Things got away from them late which impacted the statistics, but their top guys were flying around and making plays, holding Philadelphia without a touchdown for the opening three quarters. If the offense had met their end of the bargain, it would have been a different story.
There's a lot to like about Sainristil's progress. Once recently acquired Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore gets into the lineup, this has the makings of a productive tandem long-term.
Loser No. 4
Dan Quinn - Commanders HC
Dan Quinn has done an outstanding job since becoming Commanders head coach. He's galvanized the locker room and molded this new-look roster into a cohesive unit much sooner than expected. They are falling short against the top-tier teams, but that doesn't detract from the fine achievements accomplished in a short space of time.
Thursday's loss wasn't Quinn's finest moment. The situational football was sluggish throughout. The Commanders' offense didn't look ready to play and lacked the explosiveness typically associated with this revamped squad. Even when kicker Eagles kicker Jake Elliott spotted them seven points with the missed efforts, they couldn't get over the line.
Quinn went for it on fourth down when a Zane Gonzalez field goal would have been enough to regain the ascendancy. This was despite the offense being stopped for no gain on two consecutive plays and failing to generate any momentum throughout the contest. It backfired with a poorly executed play that swung the pendulum for good.
Losing isn't the end of the world. The Commanders have a decent-looking schedule the rest of the way. Some extra rest in the coming weeks won't hurt, so Quinn must keep his team galvanized in the face of their first prolonged adversity of the campaign.
