The Washington Commanders’ 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football landed as more than just another defeat. It closed the book on a stretch the NFC East would rather forget, with the division becoming the first since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to go winless in consecutive weeks when all four teams were in action.
That distinction came together across Weeks 5 and 6, when the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Commanders went a combined 0-7-1. Ari Meirov of MySportsUpdate highlighted the league data, and Washington’s loss was the one that locked in the unwanted piece of history.
The Commanders did make things interesting late. Jayden Daniels helped fuel a second-half push that produced two touchdowns, but the comeback stalled in Santa Clara.
Washington never found a steady running game, and the injuries kept piling up, including a devastating knee injury to Terry McLaurin. By the end, the result left the Commanders at 1-4-1 and added another rough chapter to a division-wide slump that has become impossible to ignore.
The NFC East is the first division since the 1970 merger to go winless in back-to-back weeks with every team playing. pic.twitter.com/G2ZBiRoblG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 20, 2026
Washington’s own season has been a grind from the start. The Commanders opened with back-to-back divisional losses to Philadelphia and Dallas, then picked up their only win in a Week 3 shootout against Seattle. After that came a loss to Indianapolis, an overtime tie with the Giants and now the setback against the unbeaten 49ers.
Daniels has still shown poise and playmaking ability, but the problems around him have kept the offense from really taking hold. Inconsistent protection, injuries and defensive breakdowns have all slowed Washington down. The Week 7 bye now gives the Commanders a chance to reset, even as the NFC East’s two-week collapse leaves the whole division with a lot to clean up.
In Other News...
Troy Aikman Just Stirred A 49ers Debate Fans Know Well
The Monday night matchup in San Francisco was already leaning heavily the 49ers way by halftime, with Kyle Shanahans team up 20-3 on Washington and still pushing to protect an unbeaten start to the 2026 NFL season. One of the most talked-about moments from the broadcast came on a fourth-down choice that fit right into the long-running conversation around Shanahans feel for the game, with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman using the decision as a springboard for a familiar debate.
Aikmans comments only added to the intrigue because this is exactly the sort of call that can define how a game is viewed afterward, especially when a team is rolling and the head coach is leaning on instinct instead of caution. For Washington, it was another reminder of how quickly a strong opponent can turn a prime-time game into a referendum on game management, and for the 49ers, it was part of a first half that kept their unbeaten chase in clear view. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Sent The Commanders A Frustrating Offensive Warning
The Commanders left Week 6 with a 23-17 loss to the 49ers, and the offensive frustration felt bigger than one result. Washington never quite found a rhythm for long enough, and the game turned even more difficult after Terry McLaurin went down with a knee injury and was carted off in the first quarter, forcing the passing game to adjust on the fly.
Jayden Daniels pointed to the larger issue afterward, stressing the need for steadier play from start to finish rather than stretches of sharp football followed by lulls. For a team trying to turn close games into wins, that kind of inconsistency has a way of magnifying every setback, especially when one of its top targets is suddenly unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A Terry McLaurin Fear They Dreaded
The Commanders were already navigating the usual strain of a tough NFC schedule when Terry McLaurin went down early against the 49ers, a jarring sight for a team that leans on him as its top target and most reliable playmaker. Washingtons leading receiver left in the first quarter and did not return, leaving the offense to absorb an immediate hit while the sideline tried to process what happened.
McLaurin was eventually carted off with an air cast on his left leg, and the lack of an immediate update only deepened the concern around a situation that looked serious from the moment he hit the turf. For a Commanders team trying to keep its season on track, the next wave of information on McLaurin may matter as much as anything that happened on the field Sunday. [Read more 🡒]