When you think things can’t get worse, the Washington Commanders find a way to one-up themselves. The Commanders were blown out by the Miami Dolphins 45-15 on Sunday at FedEx Field, and it was more lopsided than the final score indicates. Against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, Washington (4-9) at least kept it close before things got away in the fourth quarter. Before you could blink, Miami was up 17-0 in the first quarter.
The Commanders have given up 45 points in back-to-back games and lost four straight games heading into their bye week. And with how things have gone for them, it wouldn’t be shocking if the bye week dropped 45 points on them, too. Here are three takeaways from a second straight embarrassing loss for Washington.
No Jack Del Rio, Same Problem
Head coach Ron Rivera was always facing an uphill battle calling the defense for the first time this season against a Dolphins (9-3) offense that’s scored over 30 points in a game seven times this season before Sunday, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell who was calling the defense with how they played.
Tyreek Hill had five catches for 157 yards with two touchdowns for 78 and 60 yards, respectively. Hill could have easily gone for over 200 yards if Miami hadn’t let its foot off the gas. Tua Tagovailoa was efficient, completing 18 of 24 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
Miami had success on the ground as well, with De’Vone Achane and Raheem Mostert combining for 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns. For Rivera being a coach who hangs his hat on the defensive side of the ball, there’s no reason why the defense should be as bad as it is in his fourth season as the head coach.
Sam Howell Hitting a Wall
It isn’t uncommon for a quarterback to hit a wall in their first year as the starter, and that appears to be the case for Sam Howell. Howell completed 12 of 23 passes for 127 yards and an interception that Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ran back for a touchdown. Howell has now thrown a pick-six in three straight weeks. Across Howell’s last three starts, he has thrown just one touchdown compared to five interceptions.
The bye week should give Howell some much-needed time to reset heading into the home stretch of the season, but if he continues to struggle, it could spur questions about him being the answer Washington has been looking for at quarterback.
Locker Room Splitting at the Seams
It’s tough to keep a locker room together when you’re getting blown out the way the Commanders have been over the last two weeks. Signs of frustration appeared to leak through during receiver Terry McLaurin’s postgame interview. McLaurin was targeted three times and had no catches.
“I ran a lot of cardio,” McLaurin said. “It happens, it comes with it when it’s tough. Yeah, it’s frustrating but I’m going to keep coming in and practicing and playing hard. As long as I turn on the film, making extra blocks on the field, trying to clear it out for guys. I’ll continue to run my routes hard, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to quit just because I’m frustrated.”
McLaurin isn’t the only one to speak out after a frustrating loss. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen spoke about how he’s tired of losing after Washington’s 14-7 loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 22. But if things continue to get worse, frustrations will continue to boil over and force owner Josh Harris’ hand in deciding Rivera’s future before the season’s end.
