The Washington Commanders found a way to have fun again Sunday, breaking out of a three-game losing streak, sending local fans home happy and rekindling playoff hopes with a convincing 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Several players, including rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, said the team’s sense of joy went missing during the losing skid.
Playing in front of a home crowd at Northwest Stadium in Landover, the Commanders’ offense, which cooled down last month after a hot start, rediscovered its hyper-efficient ways against the Titans. Daniels orchestrated the offensive rebound, alongside a running game that posted 267 yards with 5.9 yards per carry.
“It feels great to win. Winning helps a lot,” Daniels said, before lifting up his running backs and linemen after the game. “They open up a lot, obviously, with guys moving the line of scrimmage, getting to the second level and letting our backs do what they do.”
Daniels completed 25 of his 30 pass attempts for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He added another 34 yards and a score as a rusher.
The win, Washington’s first since Nov. 3, boosts the Commanders to 8-5 on the season as they cling to a playoff spot in a crowded NFC. The loss drops the Titans to 3-9.
The offensive explosion started early for the Commanders with a 40-yard touchdown rush by running back Brian Robinson Jr., who’d been hampered by knee and ankle injuries in recent weeks. He recorded 103 yards on 18 carries before resting for most of the fourth quarter.
“It created some energy for the team,” coach Dan Quinn said after the game of the opening score. “You can feel the sideline, what they brought to it. The downhill style of [Robinson’s] runs, he can kick through and step and get on to the next level.”
The Commanders dominated the first half with an efficient offensive display while the defense capitalized on Tennessee’s mistakes. The Titans fumbled twice in the first two quarters, giving the Commanders short fields as the home team jumped to a 28-0 lead.
As the marching band played “Hail to the Commanders” over and over, the Commanders’ offense found their stride after three weeks of struggles.
“That was complementary football,” said wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who caught two passes for touchdowns. “For us to do that against a really solid team just shows us what we can do if we execute at a high level and play off of one another.”
The Titans recorded 11 first-half penalties, the most in an NFL game since 2011. They finished the game with 12 penalties for 93 yards.
Tennessee fought back in the middle of the game, scoring 13 unanswered points in the second and third quarters followed by another touchdown in the final period. It wasn’t enough.
“Too many negative things all the way around. Nothing was good enough today. That was tough to watch,” Titans coach Bill Callahan said after the game. “At least we did better in the second half coming out in a game that was tough to stomach.”
Washington found its form again near the end of the game, posting another 14 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Titans quarterback Will Levis’s attempts to will his team back into the game were ultimately unsuccessful. He completed 18-of-37 attempts for 212 yards with a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Washington now enters its Week 14 bye on a high note.
“I didn’t want to go in the bye week with an L,” Daniels said. “That would’ve been four straight. So, obviously, winning like this always makes everything better.”
The Commanders will now have 14 days to prepare for a trip to New Orleans to face the Saints on Dec. 15. In the meantime, Washington’s players said they’ll put their feet up and spend time with family to rest and recover.
“I’m gonna enjoy this bye week,” McLaurin said with a smile before bouncing out of his postgame press conference.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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