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On the surface, it ended on a downer. The Washington Commanders had their four-game winning streak snapped by the Baltimore Ravens 30-23 before 71,316 fans at M&T Bank Stadium.
Look a little deeper, and you will find that the franchise convinced the football community it is a team on the rise.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels, facing the best defense he’s seen so far this year went 22 for 35 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times but threw no interceptions.
“I loved answers,” head coach Dan Quinn said in his post-game press conference. “In those moments he is really strong.”
Daniels was able to answer several Baltimore scoring drives. After falling behind 10-3 on a 3-yard Derrick Henry touchdown run, Daniels engineered an eight-play 70-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLuarin.
The Ravens answered with another touchdown to take a 17-10 lead late in the second quarter but Daniels was able to get the offense into field goal range just before halftime. Austin Seibert’s 52-yard field goal was blocked.
“They got some stops and that’s what they pride themselves on doing,” Daniels said after the game.
With starting running back Brian Robinson injured and unable to play, the offense flowed through Daniels more than at any time so far this season. Daniels displayed the traits a franchise quarterback is supposed to possess.
Repeatedly, he made good throws into tight windows often throwing his receivers open or looking off defenders to get players open.
“We just didn’t finish some opportunities,” Daniels said. “Great defense we were able to go up against today…. but a the end of the day we got to go out there and execute. They got some stops but that’s what and that’s what they pride themselves on doing.”
The Ravens threatened to make the game a blowout late in the third quarter when Derrick Henry scored his second touchdown of the game. He finished running for 132 yards on 24 carries.
But once again, Daniels brought the Commanders back. This time it was a 12-play drive that ended with Daniels finding Terry McLaurin for his second touchdown of the day, this one on 4th and gaol.
“He’s really comfortable in those situations, we practice those situations a lot and it shows,” Quinn said.
Ultimately, the defense was not able to limit either Lamar Jackson (20 for 26 fir 323 yards, 1 touchdown, one interception) or Henry.
“We knew there would be some hard runs,” Quinn said. “But at times, we thought that would help on the pass plays… You’ve got to stick with it because anytime you start getting one-dimensional guys can start ripping it.”
POSTGAME NOTES:
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of a pectoral injury he suffered.
Rookie defensive back Mike Sainristill recorded his first career interception in the first quarter and returned it 28 yards. It was the first interception of the season for the Commanders.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner led the team with 12 tackles and one quarterback hit.
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