Here we are again, following up another Commanders loss. Yeah, Washington had a shot at the end and could\u2019ve beaten a more talented 49ers team on Monday night. But they didn\u2019t. Keeping it close doesn\u2019t get a half point in the win column.<\/p>\n
Horseshoes and hand grenades and all that. So here we are, dissecting a 23-17 loss to San Francisco<\/a> at Levi\u2019s Stadium that dropped the Commanders to 1-4-1<\/a>. Yeah, we know the early-season schedule was rough, but that ain\u2019t gonna cut it.<\/p>\n There were several reasons why that happened, none more prevalent that a just-plain-awful first half where the Commanders couldn\u2019t do anything right. A valiant second-half comeback attempt might\u2019ve just saved Dan Quinn\u2019s job (for now), but it couldn\u2019t prevent another loss.<\/p>\n While we won\u2019t make this a first-half-vs-second-half report card (that would just be too confusing), it might help some grades. So, get ready for some middle-of-the-road stuff in this Week 6 report card.<\/p>\n The Commanders had just two handoffs in the first half. I mean, how, as a play caller, is that possible, even with a decreased play count? The Commanders ended up with 13 carries to running backs \u2013 a beauty by Jeremy McNichols was called back by penalty \u2013 for 43 yards. That\u2019s a 3.3-yards-per-carry average<\/a>. Not great. We can concede the blocking wasn\u2019t ideal and the 49ers were getting after it, but the run designs and the commitment to the run game were lacking overall.<\/p>\n Jayden Daniels\u2019 stat line doesn\u2019t look too shabby. He completed 29-of-40 passes for 300 yards<\/a>, two touchdowns and no picks. Daniels heated up in the second half and nearly brought the Commanders back from the brink. The pass protection remains suspect, but the Commanders still worked the ball down the field despite a brutal Terry McLaurin injury that will have a lasting effect.<\/p>\n Stefon Diggs is a dawg (up, I spelled that right) and Treylon Burks is surely the No. 2 receiver moving forward. The air attack got better as the game progressed, but couldn\u2019t finish the job.<\/p>\n