Commanders’ Missed Tackles Continue to Haunt a Defense in Freefall
With the Philadelphia Eagles knocking on the door of the end zone in Week 16, FOX analyst Greg Olsen didn’t need a telestrator to point out what’s been painfully obvious all season: the Washington Commanders can’t tackle. And it’s not just a problem - it’s the problem.
The play that triggered Olsen’s comment was a perfect snapshot of what’s gone wrong in D.C. On 2nd-and-10 from the Washington 18, cornerback Jonathan Jones lined up a full 10 yards off A.J.
Brown - despite being in the red zone, where space is already limited. That cushion gave Brown all the room he needed to run a short slant, haul in a quick dart from Jalen Hurts, and turn upfield.
The result? Another chunk gain, and another missed opportunity to get off the field.
That’s been the story of the Commanders’ defense all season long: missed tackles, blown assignments, and far too many yards surrendered after the catch.
A Strategy That Only Works If You Finish the Play
There’s a reason defenders sometimes play off coverage, especially against a physical receiver like Brown. At 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds, he’s got a clear size advantage over the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Jones.
Giving space helps prevent a contested jump ball or a fade in the corner. But that strategy only works if you close quickly and wrap up.
Washington didn’t. Again.
Earlier in that same drive, Brown found a soft spot between linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu - another short completion, another missed tackle, another first down. It’s not just a cornerback problem. It’s systemic.
Injuries Have Forced the Scheme, But Execution Is the Issue
Earlier in the year, when Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos were healthy, the Commanders had more flexibility in their coverages. They could mix in man, disguise their looks, and bring pressure. But once both corners went down, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. had little choice but to lean heavily on zone coverage.
The problem? Zone only works if you’re disciplined and, more importantly, if you tackle. And right now, Washington just isn’t doing that.
Jones and fellow corner Mike Sainristil - both undersized for the outside - have been asked to do too much. In man coverage, they’re physically overmatched.
In zone, they’re allowing completions underneath and failing to stop plays before they turn into bigger gains. It’s a lose-lose scenario.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Of the nine defensive backs who’ve played at least 20% of Washington’s defensive snaps this season, seven have double-digit missed tackle rates. That’s not just a red flag - that’s a full-blown alarm.
Box safeties, who are supposed to be the last line of defense and the most reliable tacklers on the field, have been particularly shaky. Jeremy Reaves (11.8%), Will Harris (15.4%), and Darnell Savage Jr. (16.7%) are all missing tackles at a concerning clip.
And it’s not just them. Frankie Luvu, who’s been a high-motor linebacker throughout his career, has also struggled to finish plays. That only compounds the issue in the middle of the field, where short passes are routinely turning into long gains.
To put things in perspective, Jeremy Chinn - who played the same role for Washington last season - had a missed tackle rate of just 5.7%. Not only was he more reliable, but he also logged significantly more tackles than Reaves, Sainristil, or Quan Martin have this year. That kind of consistency is sorely missed.
The Eagles Showed What Sound Tackling Looks Like
While Washington was flailing, the Eagles were putting on a clinic in how to play defense with discipline. Every team misses tackles - it’s part of the game - but the difference is in how often and how costly those misses are.
Philadelphia’s secondary has just three players with double-digit missed tackle rates, and one of them barely sees the field. Their box safety, Reed Blankenship, sits at 9.6%, while slot corner Cooper DeJean boasts a stellar 3.7%.
DeJean’s made 84 tackles this season and missed just three. That’s the kind of efficiency Washington can only dream of right now.
The Ripple Effect: Extra Yards, Extra Points, Extra Losses
The consequences of poor tackling aren’t just cosmetic - they’re killing Washington in the standings. The Commanders have allowed nearly 500 more yards after the catch than the Eagles. They’ve surrendered more first downs than any team in the league, and most of those have come through the air.
They’ve also given up the seventh-most points in the NFL this season - a stark contrast from 2024, when they were right around league average. Injuries have taken a toll, and the pass rush hasn’t been nearly as disruptive as it needs to be. But if Washington could simply get ball carriers to the ground after the catch, they’d be in much better shape.
Bottom Line: Fix the Fundamentals
There’s no magic scheme or personnel switch that’s going to fix this overnight. But the Commanders don’t need to reinvent their defense - they just need to tackle. That’s the foundation of any successful unit, and right now, it’s crumbling.
Until Washington cleans up its tackling, no amount of schematic adjustments or coverage tweaks will matter. The yards will keep piling up, the first downs will keep coming, and the scoreboard will keep reflecting a defense that can’t get out of its own way.