Washington fans have talked about the Commanders offense lately as if Kliff Kingsbury has abandoned the run. Far from it. Washington is 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards per game — and that is despite the fact that Kliff did actually abandon the run in Week 2 vs Green Bay when Washington running backs had only 12 carries for 34 yards.
In the other three games this season, Washington has rushed for a total of 568 yards — an average of 189 yards per game. In the three non-Green Bay games, Kingsbury’s offense has rushed for 220, 201, and 147 yards.
All three backs have contributed heavily. For the season, Bill has 172 yards and 2 touchdowns at an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Jeremy McNichols is the ypc leader at 10.6, with 106 total rush yards and a TD. Chris Rodriguez, playing in just two games so far, has 98 yards at 5.4 yards per carry.
Unlike 2024, the Commanders run game has not really been QB-dependent in 2025. That said, the QBs are integral to the overall rushing attack; Jayden Daniels has rushed for 85 yards at 4.7 ypc, while Marcus Mariota has added 60 yards at 7.5 ypc.
The Chargers are more of a passing team — unusual for an offense designed by offensive coordinator Greg Roman, but an obvious recognition of the arm talent of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Herbert’s season has been a tale of two halves through September. In his first two outings, he completed over 71% of his passes, throwing for 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. In the two most recent games, one of them a road loss to the then-0-3 Giants, Herbert completed under 58% of his attempts, throwing 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The difference seems to be related to the amount of pressure applied by opposing pass rush. This past Sunday, the Giants pressured Herbert on more than 50% of his dropbacks.
The health of the Chargers offensive line is relevant here. Both of the team’s planned starting tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, are out at the moment. Backup LT Austin Deculus is considered particularly vulnerable. If Joe Whitt can scheme up some pressure from Washington’s defensive unit, that may help mask the deficiencies that have been obvious in the Commanders’ secondary through 4 games in which they have surrendered an average of 246 passing yards per game — ranked 27th in the NFL.
With a season-ending injury to RB Najee Harris, the running game duties have fallen to rookie Omarion Hampton. He stepped up with 128 yards and a rushing TD in the loss to the Giants on Sunday, though he had only 14 rush yards at halftime. Playing from behind, the Chargers leaned into the run game in the second half last week with Hampton breaking a 54-yard TD scamper when Los Angeles was trailing by 11 points. He also had an incredible 18-yard run on 3rd & 1 when he was hit behind the line and bulled his way through multiple tacklers. The Commanders will need to clean up their sloppy tackling to control Hampton today.
Washington’s own passing game is missing two top receivers — Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin — for the 2nd consecutive week. Tay Martin has been elevated from the practice squad again to enhance the available depth. The return of Jayden Daniels at quarterback should add an extra dimension if he is not limited by his knee injury, but his receivers may be strongly challenged by the Chargers defense that is allowing just 6.7 yards per attempt (second in the league).
The Chargers have maintained their reputation for strong defensive efficiency, ranking high in defensive Expected Points Added (EPA) per pass. With a solid foundation in their 3-4 defensive scheme, the Chargers continue to be a top-tier defense in 2025. On Sunday against the Giants, Tuli Tuipulotu tallied 4 sacks himself — with 3 in the first half.
LA was vulnerable to Jaxson Dart’s mobility a week ago with the rookie gaining 54 yards on 10 carries; the threat of Jayden Daniels running may be sufficient to unlock some big plays for the Commanders offense. Their ability to shut down opposing offenses in the air, paired with a developing front seven, makes the Chargers defense a legitimate threat every week — but so does Jayden Daniels’ dual threat ability.
Chargers offensive turnovers were also critical in the loss to the Giants last Sunday. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt have both talked a lot about the importance of “producing the ball” or creating turnovers. So far in 2025, Washington’s defense has not created much. Despite the Commanders’ offense losing the ball just two times (Marcus Mariota fumble & interception — one in each game played) Washington is -1 in turnover differential this year. The Chargers are -2.
With all three of Washington’s division rivals playing in the 1pm time slot, Commanders fans will know the exact lay of the divisional landscape prior to the Commanders 4:25pm kickoff.
NFC East Standings through 4 weeks:
In fact, the Cowboys won handily; the Giants blew an early lead to lose their 4th game of the season to the Saints, and the Eagles were outscored 18-0 in the 4th quarter to lose their first game since their Week 16 loss to Washington last season.
There were two upsets in the division already today. If the Commanders can take care of the ball on offense, pressure Herbert defensively, and continue to get the kind of outstanding play from special teams that has been a hallmark of the young season, the opportunity exists for the underdog Commanders to earn a much-needed road win this afternoon and close to within a game of the Eagles.
The Commanders won the toss and chose to kick off to open the game. The Chargers started their opening drive at the 23-yard line after good kick coverage by Washington’s special teams.
We didn’t have to wait to see rookie RB Omarion Hampton, who got the ball on the first two plays to bring up 3rd & 2. On 3rd down, Herbert scramble up the middle, rumbling for 41 yards before Sainristil brought him down at the WAS 27.
Two plays later, it was 3rd & 5. On 3rd down, Herbert’s pass to the back of the end zone was well defended by safety Jeremy Reaves on a pass intended for Ladd McConkey.
However, Sainristil jumped offsides on the 4th down field goal attempt giving LA a 1st & goal at the 6-yard line! It was a disastrous play by the 2nd year corner after making two key tackles to help stop the Chargers short of the touchdown.
On 2nd down, McConkey caught a 2-yard touchdown pass. Thanks to Sainristil’s penalty, the Chargers, instead of leading by 3 points, took a 7-0 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the quarter. The drive covered 75 yards in 9 plays.
Jayden Daniels took the field for the first time since the end of the Week 2 loss to Green Bay.
McCaffrey’s kickoff return gave the offense the ball at the 42-yard line with another strong return.
Daniels was tackled for a loss on a called QB run on 2nd down to force 3rd & 4. On 3rd down, he was unable to complete the checkdown to Jeremy McNichols. 3 & out; Tress Way on to punt.
After a touchback, LA took over at the 20-yard line with a bit over 8 minutes left in the 1st quarter.
Hampton was stuffed on 2nd & 7 to force 3rd down. On 3rd & 7, Keenan Allen caught a short pass, forced a missed tackle, and ran for a 29-yard gain well into Washington territory. Ugly defense.
The Chargers earned another first down, but a 2nd down blitz with a QB hit on Herbert forced 3rd & 5.
On the 3rd down play, Von Miller and Jacob Martin combined for a much-needed sack on Herbert to stall the drive.
Chargers kicker, Cameron Dicker, came on to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which went right down the middle to make the score 10-0 with about 3 minutes left in the quarter.
A personal foul against Quan Martin on the return pushed the Commanders back to the 13-yard line to start the 2nd offensive drive. Bill Merritt got the initial carry on this drive, picking up 7 yards on his first carry, then 13 yards on his 2nd carry.
Two plays later, it was 3rd & 9; Jayden scrambled, but lost his footing to end up 4-yards short, bringing Tress Way back onto the field.
Jayden changed cleats after this play.
Tress punted as the quarter came to an end.
The Chargers started their 3rd offensive drive at the LAC 14-yard line to open the 2nd quarter.
Herbert was 6-8 for 60 yards and a TD in the first quarter, with a 41-yard run. Jayden has 7 passing yards and 2 rush yards.
The defense played two good snaps to force 3rd & 3. On 3rd down at the 21 yard line, Hampton got the 3 yards needed for the fresh set of downs.
Hampton caught a checkdown and then ran though a Frankie Luvu tackle that should have been for no loss.
On the next play, Dorance Armstrong got his first sack of the game.
It didn’t faze the Chargers offense, who added 21 yards on the next two plays.
The Commanders defense came up huge on the next play —following a pass completion to Quentin Johnson, Quan Martin forced a fumble on the tackle that was recovered by Marshon Lattimore. Joe Whitt will be happy with this play! It’s the Commanders 2nd forced turnover of the season. Washington ball at the 26-yard line and just under 9 minutes left in the half.
Two plays and a false start penalty later, it was 3rd & 16. On 3rd down, Daniels hit Jaylin Lane in the middle of the field for a 17-yard gain and a critical 1st down!
McNichols came in the game to tote the ball, followed by Bill Merritt. Jayden scrambled for 7 yards, then completed a 6-yard pass to earn a 1st down at the LAC 45-yard line. The offense suddenly looks like what we’re used to seeing, with a dynamic Jayden Daniels and a variety of positive plays.
A direct snap to Bill earned 9 yards; on the next play, he scampered 15 yards around the left end for a walk-in TD.
The Commanders went 74 yards in 9 plays following the forced turnover. The score is 10-7 with just over 4 minutes left in the half.
Bill has 45 yards and a TD on 5 carries late in the 2nd quarter.
The Chargers started their 4th offensive series at the 33-yard line with about 4 minutes on the clock.
Hampton opens the drive by breaking another tackle behind the line — it’s good that he’s getting hit; it’s bad that he’s not getting tackled.
At the 2-minute warning, the Chargers had the ball 2nd & 7 at their own 46-yard line.
Bobby Wagner blew in, unblocked, to bury Justin Herbert, who dumped off a pass for a 7-yard loss with Daron Payne playing pass defense.
On 3rd & 14, the checkdown to Hampton went nowhere. Dan Quinn used his timeouts to give Jayden enough time to try to score again before halftime. The Chargers punted; the Commanders got the ball at the 6-yard line with 95 seconds on the clock.
Washington has a chance to tie or take the lead if the offense can move the ball as effectively as they did on the previous drive. Each team has one time out in hand, and the Commanders have 93 yards of green grass in front of them.
A sack inside the 2-yard line on 2nd down created a bad situation. After an incomplete pass, Tress Way had to punt with his heels at the back of the end zone. Probably not Dan Quinn’s best-ever game and clock management.
Ladd McConkey returned the punt to the end zone, but the apparent touchdown was wiped away by a roughing the kicker call against the Chargers when Tress Way’s plant leg was cut out from under him.
The penalty, in addition to taking a Chargers TD off the scoreboard, gave Washington the ball at the 17-yard line with 34 seconds on the clock.
On the next play, Daniels heaved the ball 50-yards downfield to Luke McCaffrey, who caught the ball with Donte Jackson draped all over him!
With 20 ticks on the clock, Daniels hit Deebo at the 11-yard line. By the time he’d clocked it, there were 5 seconds left, and Matt Gay came out for a 29-yard attempt, which he drilled.
The Commanders get the ball to open the 2nd half.
Jayden Daniels and the offense started their 5th offensive drive at the 31-yard line.
Bill Merritt opened the half with a run for no gain, with Jayden picking up 9 yards on a 2nd-down scramble. On 3rd & 1, Daniels pitched it to Bill on a speed option play; Bill ran for 9 yards. 5 yards were added for a defensive penalty to give 1st & 10 at the WAS 45-yard line.
On the next play, Jayden found Croskey Merritt on a checkdown; Bill rambled down the left sideline for a 28-yard gain.
CRod came on to spell Bill after the big gain.
Daniels hit Tay Martin for 9 yards to the LAC 18-yard line, then kept it on a zone read for the needed yard.
A screen pass on 1st down to Croskey-Merritt earned 1st & goal at the 5-yard line.
Then, Bill ran in his second TD of the day on a walk-in to the left side.
After the PAT, Washington had its first lead of the day, 17-10 with about 11 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The drive covered 69 yards in 7 plays.
The Chargers took the field for offensive drive #6 at the 28-yard line trailing by 7 points.
Johnny Newton opened his ledger with a 9-yard sack of Herbert on first down.
A pair of penalties against LA made it 2nd & 33 at the 5-yard line.
A short run by Hampton was followed by a 6-yard pass and the home crowd rained down the boos.
On the subsequent punt, Jaylin Lane made the fair catch at the WAS 43-yard line with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the quarter. The Commanders have great field position and the opportunity to open up a 2-score lead.
Bill got the ball on the first play; he made a highlight reel spin move at the line of scrimmage, reversed field, and ran for 27 yards! That was special!! Bill is averaging 9.6 yards per carry vs the Chargers at this point in the game.
Two plays later, Washington faced 3rd & 10 at the LAC 30-yard line.
This time, it was Jeremy McNichols, who took a swing pass, broke a pair of tackles, and earned the 1st down with a 12-yard catch & run.
On 2nd & 5 Daniels scrambled and made an incredible throw to Chris Moore in the corner of the end zone. The receiver dropped the sure touchdown.
A delay of game penalty made it 3rd & 10. Daniels was unable to complete the 3rd down pass, so Matt Gay came on for another field goal attempt — this time from 36 yards, which he put right down the middle. Washington, having scored the last 20 points in the game, leads 20-10 with just under 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Following the kickoff, the Chargers offense, who have netted 12 yards of offense since the end of the 1st quarter, took over again at the 23-yard line.
Four plays later, Herbert kept the ball and ran for 18 yards to the Washington 47-yard line.
After an incompletion and another Dorance Armstrong sack, the Chargers faced 3rd & 14.
Herbert completed a 12-yard pass to McConkey to bring up 4th & 2. Jim Harbaugh kept his offense on the field. Herbert missed his receiver, and the Commanders took over on downs near midfield.
This will offer a huge opportunity to open up a substantial lead! Croskey-Merritt has 77 yards and 2 TDs on the ground and another 39 receiving yards. It seems like a good time to keep feeding him.
That’s what happens on 1st down, but Bill is stuffed for a 1-yard loss; but JD5 hits Deebo in the middle of the field for an 18-yard gain on 2nd & 11.
The ball is at the LAC 36-yard line as the 3rd quarter comes to an end.
The final quarter opens with Washington facing 2nd & 2 following a Croskey-Merritt 8-yard run. He now has 84 rush yards on 10 carries. Jayden looks a lot like the 2024 version.
On the first play of the quarter, Bill is hit in the backfield and fumbles the ball — Chargers recover!
The Chargers start this drive at their own 43-yard line. Two plays later, it’s 3rd & 6 at the LAC 47-yard line. Herbert easily converts the 1st down with a laser to Keenan Allen just beyond the line to gain, tackled by Reaves.
Then, the Chargers gain nothing on two plays.
On 3rd & 10, Johnston just makes it to the line to gain to earn the 1st down.
Fantastic coverage and tackle by Jeremy Reaves on 2nd down forces 3rd & 6 at the 29-yard line.
On 3rd down, Herbert again finds Keenan Allen just across the line to gain.
RB Vidal ran the ball to the 1-yard line for 1st & goal.
1st down – incomplete pass
2nd down – tackled for loss at the 4-yard line by Jordan Magee
3rd down – Intercepted by Mikey Sainristil at the goal line after being tipped by Johnny Newton at the line of scrimmage!!!
Fantastic goal line stand by the Commanders beleaguered defense!!
Washington’s offense takes over with a chance to put the game away.
Facing 99 yards of green grass, on 1st down, Daniels rolls right and hits Zach Ertz for a clutch 9-yard reception.
On 2nd down, Kliff doesn’t hesitate to give the ball to Bill again — he goes for 10 yards and a 1st down at the 20-yard line with just over 6 minutes remaining. It’s starting to feel like the Commanders can close out this win.
A couple of penalty flags against the Commanders insert a little doubt as Washington faces 2nd & 16 at the 14-yard line.
Facing pressure, Jayden scrambles for 10 yards; a leg-whip penalty against the LA defense pushes the ball to the 41-yard line — a critical call against the home team. The Commanders have 1st down with about 4:50 left in the game and a 2-score lead.
With the clock ticking, Daniels bounces like a pinball off several tacklers as he scrambles for 8 yards to the 49-yard line.
The penalty flags continue. Washington is penalized 5 yards for an illegal formation. Facing 3rd & 6 with 3:20 on the clock, the Chargers need a stop.
Instead, Bud Dupree is flagged for defensive pass interference. Washington gets 17 yards and a first down inside the LAC 40-yard line.
On the next play, Bill goes over 100 rushing yards for the first time in his career with a tough 15-yard run. Dan Quinn put Chris Rodriguez in and pulled Croskey-Merritt, who has earned the rest.
I imagine any Chargers fans who hadn’t already left would have started heading to the parking lot. Each team has 2 time outs in hand with 3:09 on the clock.
A 9-yard catch & run by Deebo is followed by a short run by CRod to the 11-yard line – 1st down. So far, the Commanders have gone 90 yards in 10 plays on this drive — what seems to be a game-icing effort.
A pair of runs by Rodriguez helps keep the clock moving to the 2-minute warning.
Following the time out, the Commanders faced 3rd & 5 at the LAC 6-yard line. It’s all over bar the shouting.
CRod is stopped on 3rd down for a 2-yard loss. DQ calls time out with 74 seconds left in the half, and, on 4th & 7, Jayden Daniels casually retreated 10 yards against the zero-blitz and floats a touchdown pass to Deebo in the right corner of the end zone.
The extra point put the cherry on top. 27-10 Commanders!
The Chargers didn’t screw around; with 68 seconds left, backup QB Trey Lance threw the ball to the middle of the field a couple times before Von Miller picked up a garbage time sack — the 5th of the day for the team.
The game ended with a Trey Lance scramble followed by a catch & run by Tyler Conklin.
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