Having lost three straight after a 7-2 start, the Washington Commanders will look to get back on track when they host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels looked sharp over the season’s first half but hasn’t led his team to a win since Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, Tennessee (3-8) is coming off a 33-27 upset of the Houston Texans that featured one of Will Levis’ best starts of the season.
Washington has lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys the past three weeks and enters Week 13 two games behind the NFC East-leading Eagles. After sputtering for three quarters against Dallas, Washington scored 17 fourth-quarter points in a wild 34-26 loss last week.
Daniels completed 25 of 38 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, but 86 of those yards came on a late catch-and-run score by Terry McLaurin.
In the three recent losses, Daniels has a 61.5 completion percentage, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 77.7 passer rating while being sacked 10 times. Daniels did have his best rushing day since Week 1 when he gained 74 yards against Dallas.
Until the fourth-quarter touchdown, McLaurin had just four catches for 16 yards after making one grab for 10 yards in the loss to the Eagles.
“I want to get the guy the ball as much as possible,” Daniels said. “Terry’s a dynamic player, but the defense dictates where the ball goes. So I’ve got to go out there and do my job.”
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn wants his team to rediscover its direction.
“I want to see this identity just reveal itself about how we play,” Quinn said. “And those things will play out as we’re going and that’s what I want to see from the guys — that the speed, the effort, the finishing, and if we do those things right, the score will certainly take care of itself, but that’s what I want to see.”
That goal will be difficult against a Titans defense that ranks second in the NFL behind the Eagles, giving up just 276.4 yards per game.
On the other side of the ball, the Tennessee offense is improving since Levis returned from his right shoulder injury.
In their first six games, the Titans averaged 135 passing yards, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Since then, the Titans have averaged 224.3 passing yards per game, with nine touchdown passes and six interceptions.
“Putting together some good performances on all sides of the ball, and improving,” Levis said. “Feel like we’re putting more consistent ball on tape. But the exciting thing is there’s still a lot to get better at, and a lot to clean up to put us in a better opportunity to win games.”
Running back Tony Pollard had his best game of the season against Houston, rushing 24 times for 119 yards and a touchdown.
“His physicality and toughness stands out,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “He’s been incredibly productive.”
On the injury front, Tennessee cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) was moved to the designated to return list and practiced on Wednesday for the first time since September. However, linebacker Luke Gifford (hamstring), edge rusher Arden Key (back), cornerback Roger McCreary (knee), receiver Calvin Ridley (ankle) and tackle Leroy Watson IV (back) did not practice on Wednesday.
Washington also got good news as cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) practiced for the first time since he was acquired from the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 5, though he was limited. Running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) and tackle Andrew Wylie (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday, and running back Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) was limited.
The Commanders placed kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserve with a hip injury after he missed two extra-point attempts and a field goal attempt on Sunday. Zane Gonzalez replaced Seibert in two games he missed previously, and he could be elevated from the practice squad.
–Field Level Media