The Commanders fooled everyone in their loss to the Chiefs, after a tale of two halves for both sides of the ball
This was a tale of two halves for the Commanders, and both were frustrating in their own ways.
The Washington Commanders lost a frustrating game against the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-7, and it felt like we watched two different teams playing in two different halves.
We wanted to see a change in the defense, and sure enough, that’s exactly what we saw in the first half. It felt like this was a game the Commanders would steal, get back to how they played last year, and we would see a different team moving forward.
It was short-lived, though, because they went right back to playing awful football in the second half after showing their potential in the first half.
Commanders looked like a contender in the first half
The offense was clicking to start the game, driving right down the field, but unfortunately, Deebo Samuel deflected a catch right to a defender, ending a great opening drive with a turnover. The defense did the unthinkable and had two turnovers off Patrick Mahomes in the first half, while the offense finally found the end zone on a Terry McLaurin toe-tapping catch.
The defense had its best showing in the first half, while the offense didn’t capitalize and add more points to reward its efforts. Going into halftime 7-7 against the Chiefs on the road is the best start you could possibly ask for, and it should’ve been a bigger lead for the Commanders.
It did nothing for the second half, though, as we saw the ugly side of the team we’ve grown used to watching over the last few weeks.
The second half showed that the Commanders need a lot of work
The Chiefs adjusted at halftime, and the Commanders didn’t. They shot themselves in the foot as well, and that’s not something you can do against Mahomes.
Rookie Jaylin Lane missed a kickoff on the first drive of the second half that ended up going down at the two-yard line after the Chiefs scored to go up 14-7. The Commanders punted five plays later and gave the ball right back to the Chiefs after holding it for only two minutes.
That drive was a killer in the end because the Chiefs scored again on the next drive to go up 21-7. The Chiefs caught all the momentum in the second half, and they didn’t look back. The Commanders’ defense went back to giving up huge plays, and players like Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice had easy touchdowns.
The truth about the Commanders is that they have good players capable of making big plays, but they can’t play four full quarters to beat a team like the Chiefs right now. I don’t know how much Jayden Daniels would’ve helped tonight, but seeing the defense return to its old habits in the second half raises questions after seeing how it played in the first half.
Seven points obviously will never be enough to win a game. Both sides of the ball are at fault.
The season is slipping away from the Commanders, who have the Seattle Seahawks at home next Sunday night, and a lot more injuries are starting to pile up. There’s only a small thread of hope left before we can call it a bad season and look forward to the offseason.