A 27-10 win over Philadelphia gave Washington plenty of candidates for this week’s Boss Hog, and the ballot is crowded after a performance that featured offense, defense and special teams all making their case.
Jayden Daniels is right near the top of the list after steering the Commanders through a shaky opening and into a comfortable finish. The first quarter was rough, with a couple of sloppy drives setting an uneven tone.
Daniels didn’t let that linger. He pushed his teammates after the slow start, and once the game settled in, Washington’s offense caught fire and ripped off 27 unanswered points.
It wasn’t perfect - there were missed touchdowns left on the field - but Daniels did the job a franchise quarterback is supposed to do. He was flawless on deep throws, going 3-for-3 on passes of 20-plus yards, and his night had the feel of a resilient winning performance.
The receiver group also deserves a long look, especially with Terry McLaurin out. Stefon Diggs, Treylon Burks and Antonio Williams all stepped into bigger roles and delivered under the lights.
Burks finished with three catches for 81 yards, including a long of 53, and his night got off to a rough start with a brutal third-down drop. He shook it off and kept rolling, eventually flashing the kind of upside that makes him such an intriguing fit here. His best moment came on a 53-yard grab over Quinyon Mitchell, a play that showed just how dangerous he can be when he wins downfield.
Williams was the steady hand in the group, catching five passes for 54 yards and repeatedly helping Washington stay on schedule. Diggs, meanwhile, did what veteran playmakers do: he found the end zone. His 8-yard touchdown was the game’s only passing score, and he finished with three catches for 38 yards and a score.
Special teams had its own standout, too. Drew Stevens hit 4 of 5 field goals, including a 56-yarder, and added one PAT for 13 total points.
After missing an early 55-yard attempt, he answered with a booming kick late in the first quarter to get Washington on the board, then kept stacking points whenever the offense stalled. In a game where every missed opportunity mattered, Stevens was a huge reason the Commanders stayed in control.
On defense, Daronte Jones has a strong argument after a unit that finally looked complete. Washington held Philadelphia to 10 points, allowed zero over the final three quarters, and produced 5.0 sacks while generating a 44% quarterback pressure rate.
Jones’ blitz-heavy approach kept the Eagles uncomfortable all night, and the result was the team’s most dominant defensive showing so far. With Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw out, the front still came through and even forced a critical fumble.
Nick Cross also earned a nod after a solid all-around outing. He posted nine total tackles, five of them solo, plus a tackle for loss. His biggest play came in the third quarter, when he diagnosed an in-line blocking adjustment, beat the tight end and dropped the runner for a 3-yard loss on third down.
The entire defensive front belongs on the board as well. Outside of two roughing-the-passer penalties, the front seven spent the night in the backfield and never let Philadelphia settle in.
Sonny Styles continued his high-impact work, and with the pass rush coming from everywhere, it was hard to separate one player from the rest. That kind of collective effort deserves recognition.
Washington is still a work in progress, but this was the kind of win that shows the team is not going away. Next up is a Rams team that has been highly inconsistent, and the hope is that this momentum carries over.
In Other News...
Commanders Got Burned By Another Late Call In A Huge Spot
A promising defensive stand turned into another frustrating sequence for Washington on Sunday night when cornerback Trey Amos appeared to come up with an interception, only for the play to be erased by a roughing-the-passer flag on linebacker KLavon Chaisson. Instead of flipping possession, the penalty kept Philadelphia on the field and let the Eagles continue the drive in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
Chaisson did not hide from the moment afterward, acknowledging the penalty and voicing frustration with some of the officiating decisions throughout the night. For Washington, it was the kind of costly break that can linger well beyond one drive, especially when a defense thinks it has finally forced the turnover it needed. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Is Giving Commanders Fans A Reason To Believe In This Secondary
Trey Amos has started to look like one of the more encouraging pieces in Washingtons young secondary. The 2025 second-round pick returned from injury in Week 6 and has quickly settled back in as a steady presence, flashing the kind of coverage skills the Commanders hoped to see when they drafted him. In Sunday nights win over Philadelphia, Amos was again part of a defensive effort that gave Washington fans a little more reason to trust what this back end might become.
The bigger takeaway is not just that Amos has been active around the ball, but that he has helped limit what opposing receivers can do when targeted. Multiple pass deflections and a knack for staying in phase have made him stand out during a stretch when the Commanders are looking for defensive stability to take hold. For a team trying to build something lasting on that side of the ball, Amos is already making the case that he can be part of the answer. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Styles Is Already Rewarding Washingtons Biggest Draft Gamble
Seven games into his NFL career, Sonny Styles already looks like the kind of rookie linebacker Washington can build around. The Commanders have seen enough to feel good about their decision to make him a centerpiece of the defense, and the early returns have matched the buzz that followed him into the league. His athleticism, feel for the position and ability to affect plays have stood out enough that he is already drawing praise as more than just a promising young defender.
The latest reminder came in a prime-time setting against Philadelphia, where Styles once again showed why Washington was willing to make such a bold draft move. For a team trying to raise the ceiling of its defense, the encouraging part is not just what he has done so far, but how quickly he has started to look comfortable in a demanding role. The bigger question now is how far that growth can go, and how soon he can turn a hot start into something even more lasting. [Read more 🡒]