After losing the week before to the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders traveled to the West Coast with something to prove, and in the end, they delivered.
In a statement victory at SoFi Stadium, Washington rolled past the Los Angeles Chargers 27-10 in week five. Despite critical players such as wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown and guard Sam Cosmi still injured, the road win boosts the Commanders to a 3-2 record and gives them a lot to look forward to as well.
“We’ll make sure we take all the right steps, just like we do with all the guys,” said Commanders head coach Dan Quinn ahead of the team’s next home game: a Monday Night Football matchup against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Oct. 13— set to kick off at 8:15 p.m. “But with having an extra day, that never hurts going into it.”
Check out three standouts from Washington’s impressive bounce-back performance in Los Angeles.
- Quarterback Jayden Daniels Returns
In his first game back from a knee injury, quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered a historic performance just miles away from his hometown.
His first game since week two, Daniels recorded 231 yards and a touchdown, while also becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in just 20 career games.
The game held a deeper meaning for the second-year quarterback. Playing in his home state of California for the first time as a pro, Daniels took the field in front of family, friends, and fans from San Bernardino, where he starred at Cajon High School to become now a local legend of the game.
“It means a lot, first game back after a couple of weeks off and to be in my hometown, I mean you can’t write up a better story,” said Daniels.
His return sparked a struggling Commanders offense, which capitalized on a key defensive turnover to shift the momentum in the second quarter.
In the end, Daniels solidified the win with a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Deebo Samuel, sealing Washington’s first road victory of the season.
With Daniels back and already making history, the Commanders head into week six with renewed confidence and a team ready to take control of their season outlook.
“Just build on it. I mean there’s nothing really more. You just gotta hone in on the little things, week in and week out because every week is a new week,” said Daniels. “We can use the momentum but at the end of the day we still gotta focus on the little things.”
- Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt Named LFG Player of the Game
Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt may have entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick, but he’s quickly proving he’s no ordinary rookie.
The Washington Commanders running back turned heads in Sunday’s 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, delivering an impressive performance in return to the region where he played some of his best college football.
Croskey-Merritt led Washington’s ground game with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries, averaging an impressive 7.9 yards per attempt, making him the team’s first rookie to rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns since running back Antonio Gibson in the 2020 season.
His dynamic day didn’t go unnoticed. In addition to his impressive performance and early declarations for Rookie Of The Week, Croskey-Merritt earned Tom Brady’s “LFG Player Of The Game” award for week five.
The rookies’ impact exceeded stat sheet expectations. He also recorded two catches for 39 yards, including a 28 yard gain, and accounted for six explosive plays on the day.
“He’s got very good vision inside, but he can really put his foot in the ground and break tackles,” said Quinn.
- Wide Receiver Luke McCaffrey Steps Up
Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, delivered a dynamic performance in Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers, recording a 50-yard reception over the middle of the field, which set up the Commanders’ game-tying field goal at the end of the second quarter.
In addition to his thrilling reception, McCaffrey returned three kicks for 92 yards and has now recorded 377 kick return yards across Washington’s first five games this season.
With McLaurin and Brown sidelined in week five, McCaffrey has stepped up in a huge way as the No. 3 wide receiver option, playing 22 offensive snaps.
McCaffrey’s performance on Sunday not only showed his ability to be a depth player in Washington’s wide receiver arsenal, but it also displayed his promotion for what could be a breakout season.
“I think that he has, and he can feel it like it, is this competitive spirit,” said Quinn. “In a game, two weeks ago, I saw him catch a touchdown pass and then go down and cover a kick and be in on a tackle. And I think that speaks to just the competitor he is.”
