Washington Commanders Dan Quinn is run into on the sideline during the first half of NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Republished September 22, 2025 - 1:09 PM
Original Publication Date September 22, 2025 - 11:11 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a jubilant Washington Commanders locker room, linebacker Frankie Luvu announced whom he wanted to reward with a game ball: “Took one on the sideline, and popped up like toast. DQ!” With that, Luvu went over to wrap coach Dan Quinn in a hug.
The Commanders already were leading the Las Vegas Raiders when Quinn got bowled over and bloodied by quarterback Marcus Mariota in a sideline collision shortly before halftime Sunday, but the players loved the way their boss got right back up.
“He went into the training room, got bandaged up,” Mariota said, “and was like: ‘All right. Let’s keep going.’ I think that’s what really got the guys going.”
Maybe that's because Washington desperately needed a bounce-back game after an ugly-looking, injury-filled loss in which their offensive line was a glaring issue, their running game was nonexistent, their defense provided little in the way of pressure or resistance and no one really stood out in a positive way.
With some key coaching decisions, steady play from Mariota in place of the hurt Jayden Daniels, a strong ground game and contributions from up and down the roster, Washington (2-1) beat Las Vegas 41-24 to get itself pointed in the right direction before facing the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) next weekend.
"A great steppingstone for us,” Mariota said.
With starting running back Austin Ekeler done for the season, the Commanders spread the ball around, with Chris Rodriguez, Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Deebo Samuel and Mariota each getting at least three carries and totaling 201 yards rushing, 174 in the first half. Croskey-Merritt, Mariota and McNichols each scored a rushing TD, with McNichols going for 60 yards.
They did it behind an offensive line with two new starting guards — Andrew Wylie for Nick Allegretti on the right side, and Chris Paul for Brandon Coleman on the left — that also allowed only one sack.
“We weren’t happy,” Quinn said, referring to Washington's previous outing, a 27-18 loss at Green Bay on Sept. 11, “but we’re going to make the adjustments: What do we got to do to change it?”
What’s working
Special teams. From the day's first touch — Samuel's 69-yard return on the opening kickoff, setting up Mariota's 2-yard TD run after a short drive — to rookie Jaylin Lane's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, Washington dominated that area Sunday.
What needs help
The secondary, which lost safety Will Harris to a broken fibula. Harris went on injured reserve Monday, and the Commanders signed safety Darnell Savage, a 28-year-old from Maryland in his seventh NFL season who was released by the Jaguars last week. After giving up 289 yards on 19 completions to Geno Smith, including three TD passes to Tre Tucker, Washington is allowing 12.5 yards per completion — only the Dallas Cowboys, at 12.7, are worse this season. Another glaring statistic on the defensive side: The Commanders do not have a single takeaway. The only other teams with zero turnovers are the Jets and Dolphins, who are both 0-3.
Stock up
The pass rush. Washington sacked Smith five times, including twice by LB Bobby Wagner, who hadn't registered even a half-sack in the preceding 14 games, and last had two in one game in October 2023. Von Miller, Dorrance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste also got in on the act. “We have guys that you have to respect,” Wagner said. "What we did today, I think we could do that throughout the rest of the season.”
Stock down
PK Matt Gay. He missed another field-goal attempt against the Raiders — from just 37 yards — making him 1 for 4 this season to that point. Gay did make two kicks later in the game, from 46 and 56 yards.
Injuries
The most important status to monitor will be that of Daniels (left knee), of course, and Quinn said Monday the QB is still day to day. ... CB Marshon Lattimore, who was evaluated for a possible concussion, was cleared, Quinn said, but the coach did not offer updates on WR Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), S Percy Butler (hip) or CB Trey Amos (calf).
Key number
29% — Success rate on third downs for the Commanders' opponents through three games, 12 of 42, the best in the NFL. Washington held Las Vegas to 3 for 14, 21.4%.
Next steps
The Commanders face another struggling opponent they should beat, Atlanta, which is coming off an embarrassing 30-0 loss to Carolina. There will be reunions: Quinn coached Atlanta to a Super Bowl appearance; Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins used to start for Washington.
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