Things looked normal for the Washington Commanders this weekend.
That certainly wasn't the case for the team in the previous three weeks, when self-inflicted wounds against some of the league's best teams led to a three-game losing streak that dropped them from 7-2 and atop the NFC East to 7-5 and holding on to the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.
But after three weeks of questions about the offense's lack of production and a stream of frustrating gaffes, the Commanders looked like themselves in their 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans, and there was a feeling of relief mixed among the cheers echoing throughout Northwest Stadium.
There was plenty to be happy about for the Commanders, who have doubled their win total from 2023 with four games left on the schedule. The offense, which had been held to less than 300 yards in two of their last three games, was back to running up and down the field. You can take that phrase literally, too, with Brian Robinson contributing 103 yards to a 267-yard day on the ground. The unit racked up 463 yards on the day, its second-best output of the season, converting 9-of-14 third downs and earning 29 first downs.
It might sound obvious, but the offense looked like its old self because its personnel was producing at a more familiar rate. That starts with Jayden Daniels, who had his third game with an interception but did complete 83.3% of his passes for 206 yards with three scores. The misses that plagued Daniels against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles were not present against the Titans, as he completed his first six passes -- one of which was a 16-yard shot to Terry McLaurin in the end zone.
And as a bonus, the Commanders had their return to normalcy against a Titans defense that ranked second in total yards allowed and second against the pass.
The defense, meanwhile, continued its upward trend. There were still a few mistakes in the secondary that helped the Titans keep the score slightly closer, thanks to two touchdowns from Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but so was the dominant showing in the first half that has become the norm for the unit. At various points in the first two quarters, the Titans had fewer yards than the Commanders had points and had run only five more plays than they have committed penalties.
Will Levis didn't commit a turnover -- something he's done in all but two games he's played in this season -- but his teammates made up for it with two fumbles. Washington, which has emphasized creating takeaways all year, pounced on them, and unlike last week, when the Commanders couldn't capitalize on ideal field position, Washington turned both opportunities into points.
That played a part in Washington building a lead that was almost impossible for Tennessee to match.
The Commanders got on the board early after a three-and-out from the Titans, and it only took three plays for them to find the end zone. Brian Robinson broke loose following a block from Brandon Coleman and sprinted 40 yards for the longest rushing touchdown by a Washington player since 2019. Another Titans punt was followed by another Commanders touchdown, this time on an 80-yard drive that ended with Daniels making two jukes on the way to a three-yard score.
Mike Sainristil knocked the ball out of Tony Pollard's grasp two plays into the Titans' ensuing drives. Sainristil recovered the ball, too, and Washington hit pay dirt once again three plays later. McLaurin, starting on the right of the formation, made his way to the left and was wide open for the 16-yard score.
Next, it was Tyler Owens' turn to create a scoring opportunity for the offense. He forced and recovered a fumble from Jha'Quan Jackson on the ensuing kickoff, and Daniels and McLaurin connected again on a three-yard score that put Washington up 28-0.
Westbrook-Ikhine got open and scored on a 27-yard touchdown with seconds left in the second quarter to make it a 28-7 halftime score.
Things weren't as exciting in the second half, but with the Titans needing a herculean effort to come back, Washington produced when it needed the points. After the Titans hit field goals of 41 and 44 yards, the Commanders got to the Titans' 4-yard line partly due to a 24-yard pickup by Zach Ertz. Daniels connected with Ertz again on third-and-2 to give the tight end his 50th career touchdown and put Washington up 35-13.
Westbrook-Ikhine got into the end zone again on a 17-yard pass from Will Levis, but the Commanders matched that on the following possession with a seven-yard rumble from Chris Rodriguez, who finished the night with 94 yards on 13 carries. Tennessee's final attempt at keeping the game alive fell incomplete on a fourth-and-8, allowing Washington to bleed the clock.
Washington's 23-point victory is its best since Week 7, and it could have been larger than that. Zane Gonzalez missed on field goal attempts of 46 and 52 yards, but unlike in previous weeks, when those misses would have been roadblocks to success, they were merely speed bumps as the Burgundy & Gold rolled into the bye week feeling more confident about their chances at a postseason berth in the final stretch of the season.
