The Commanders' Struggle: A Season of Setbacks and Self-Inflicted Wounds

The Washington Commanders are in a tough spot. They started the season with high hopes, but things have not gone as planned. The team is now 3-4, and their struggles are not just about injuries or bad luck. They are making mistakes that are hard to fix. The defense is a big problem. They are giving up too many big plays. Quarterbacks are having an easy time against them. The pass rush is not doing enough to help the secondary. Safety Quan Martin is allowing too many yards when he is the primary defender. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil are also struggling. Lattimore is allowing too many completions and has committed several penalties. Sainristil has two interceptions but has also allowed too many touchdowns and first downs. The rush defense has been up and down. They started strong but have struggled recently. They are allowing too many yards on the ground. Teams are averaging 3. 1 yards per carry after contact, which is not good. The Commanders brought in free agents to improve the depth, but injuries have worn away that depth. Jayden Daniels, the quarterback, is not the main issue. His numbers are similar to last year. The problem is that he does not have his top three wide receivers. Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown are all injured. This has made it hard for Daniels to complete passes downfield. Teams are playing more aggressively because they do not have to worry about dangerous weapons on the outside. The Commanders are also struggling with small margins. Last year, they were good at converting third and fourth downs. This year, they are not. They are also committing too many turnovers. Eight turnovers this year compared to 14 all of last year. A few plays here or there can make a big difference, and this year, the Commanders have not made those plays in crucial times. The schedule is not helping. The "easier" part of the season is over. Now, they have a brutal three-week stretch: at the Chiefs, against the Seahawks, and against the Lions. Their quarterback is injured for the second time this year, and his supporting cast has been injured essentially all year. Dan Quinn, the head coach, admitted that the team is not playing to the standard they have set. They are making too many mistakes, and it is hard to see a quick turnaround. The Commanders need to fix their problems soon, or they might miss the postseason.