Commanders’ defense overmatched by Jackson, Henry in loss to Ravens

BALTIMORE — Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner knows what it takes to reach the NFL mountaintop — he and coach Dan Quinn won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. Sometimes, it takes a tough loss to force a squad to grow. 

At least, that’s what the Commanders’ veteran leader told reporters after his squad’s 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

“It took games like this, where you kind of hurt yourself a little bit, whether it’s penalties or miscommunication, things of that nature,” the 34-year-old said. “You go back, you hold yourself accountable, you got the right men to hold yourself accountable, and everyone gets back to the drawing board.”

The loss to the perennially contending Ravens snapped a four-game win streak for Washington, an unexpectedly hot start after a busy offseason. The defense, which had stepped up after some early-season struggles, stumbled again.

“When we take our shots, we’ve got to learn from them and say we’re going to be in a lot of these kinds of fights against a lot of good teams,” Quinn said. “I want us to be comfortable in those spots, but you do have to go through them. … The lessons there are just as effective.”

The Ravens controlled the game with a seemingly unstoppable offensive attack. Wide receiver Zay Flowers got the ball rolling for Baltimore, taking a bubble screen for a 42-yard gain on the opening possession. 

The Burgundy and Gold defense stepped up two plays later with their first interception of the season. A pass brushed off the fingertips of tight end Mark Andrews and ricocheted into the waiting arms of cornerback Mike Sainristil, who returned the ball 38 yards into Ravens territory. 

But Baltimore’s offense didn’t make any other major mistakes. The group only grew stronger as the game wore on.

Through the air, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson regularly found his targets for chunk plays down the field. When Washington called a man coverage, the speedy Flowers would run by his defender on a deep crossing route. The Boston College product recorded nine catches for a career-high 132 yards in the first half.

Zone coverage wasn’t any more effective. Tight end Mark Andrews would inevitably glide into an open space between defenders, moving the sticks over and over. If Andrews wasn’t open, then Rashod Bateman was, as the pair combined for 137 receiving yards.

The Commanders couldn’t buy a stop as the Ravens marched to a 27-13 lead by the end of the third quarter. 

Washington’s offense, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, tried to keep up. After the Ravens added a fourth-quarter field goal, Daniels tossed a tightly contested touchdown to wide receiver Terry McLaurin to trim the lead to 7. The Commanders’ prized rookie completed 24 of 35 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns.

It wasn’t enough.

Running back Derrick Henry added 38 of his 132 rushing yards on the Ravens’ final drive to cement the victory. He scored a pair of touchdowns, while Jackson finished with 363 total yards and a touchdown. 

“They’re a complete offense, but it’s never about who you’re going up against,” Sainristil said after complimenting Baltimore’s players. “Yes, you have to scout. Yes, you have to know your opponent. But it comes down to your rules and your execution at the end of the day.”

There are no moral victories in the NFL. Teams are judged at the end of their season based on wins and losses — playing a tight game against a good squad won’t be a tiebreaker in the playoff race. 

But that progress, where a squad that finished 4-13 last season could go toe-to-toe with the reigning MVP, is encouraging for Quinn and the Commanders. 

“The lessons are there for us to learn. We will learn them,” he said, highlighting his team’s resilience through adversity. “We’re strong in the situations in our young time together, and that’s really important.”

Quinn’s message has resonated with his team. In locker room discussions after the game, they focused on how they could get better. Several players noted that their execution needed work; there are nuances to clean up. They don’t plan to dwell on the loss.

“You should see the look in [Quinn’s] eye. He believes in this group that we have, and we believe in the group that we have,” McLaurin said. We have to focus on the details going forward … those small plays and every play matter.”

After four consecutive wins, including several in dominant fashion, it seemed inevitable that the Commanders would fall back to Earth — even the NFL’s elite struggle against the Ravens.

The Commanders say they’ll keep pushing forward after the loss. They’ll watch the film on Monday, return to the practice field on Wednesday and take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

“Just grow,” Wagner said when asked where the team goes from here. “If every player can grow, it’s gonna make us that much better. I feel we’ve got those guys.”