ClutchPoints
The Washington Commanders entered Week 7 hoping to prove they could hang with one of the NFC’s elite teams. Instead, they left Arlington searching for answers after a humiliating 44-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It’s a game that quickly spiraled out of control following the injury to star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
What began with Washington briefly taking an 8-7 lead in the first quarter devolved into a masterclass in mistakes, miscommunication, and missed opportunities. The Commanders’ defense looked overmatched, the offense lost its rhythm once Daniels went down, and the Cowboys exploited every weakness. By the time Marcus Mariota’s pick-six to DaRon Bland sealed the outcome, the Commanders’ sideline looked shell-shocked.
The result dropped Washington to 3-4 on the season and left fans wondering whether this team’s early promise was fool’s gold. With Daniels’ hamstring injury adding a major concern for the weeks ahead, the Commanders are now staring down a crossroads in their 2025 campaign.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Washington Commanders most to blame for their Week 7 loss to Dallas Cowboys.
For all the offseason investments made in protecting their young quarterback, Washington’s offensive line continues to underdeliver. The return of right guard Sam Cosmi was supposed to stabilize the trenches. Against Dallas’ ferocious front, though, the unit collapsed.
The Cowboys dictated the tone early. They consistently won at the point of attack. The Dallas pass rush penetrated at will, collapsing the pocket and forcing Daniels into hurried decisions. The result? A strip-sack fumble on the first drive of the second half that both cost Washington possession and left their quarterback limping off the field.
Mariota’s entry didn’t improve matters. The line’s communication broke down on blitz pickups. The Cowboys pinned their ears back and blitzed freely on passing downs. That reflected a line that failed to create any consistent rhythm or balance.
Head coach Dan Quinn’s plan to lean on play-action and zone runs was rendered useless by constant backfield penetration. For a line rebuilt to protect and control tempo, Sunday’s showing was a glaring reason why this offense remains inconsistent week to week.
When your opponent’s front seven is aggressive, the best way to slow them down is through consistent, effective running. Unfortunately for Washington, Jacory Croskey-Merritt couldn’t deliver. Despite a handful of early carries, he never found a groove. Croskey-Merritt finished with just 33 yards on 13 attempts.
It wasn’t for lack of chances. The Cowboys’ defense entered this game vulnerable to the run, as evidenced by their struggles in recent weeks. However, Croskey-Merritt lacked vision and patience. He too often ran into traffic or bounced outside prematurely. By the second quarter, Washington had abandoned the run entirely. This forced Daniels and later Mariota to shoulder the offensive load.
Croskey-Merritt’s inability to generate chunk plays early made the Commanders’ offense predictable. This allowed Dallas to sit on routes and blitz aggressively....
