Commanders Vs. Lions - Studs and Duds

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much worse - THEY DID!

This was a revenge game of sorts for Detroit after getting a beat-down in the playoffs last season, and Dan Campbell seemed to take this contest personally. While calling plays for what seemed like the majority of the game, he stepped on the throat of Joe Whitt’s defense and then when the game was seemingly in control, he twisted his shoe even further. The final score was 44-22 but I think the Lions could have easily put up 60.

The season is lost, and fans have every right to question both the coaches and Adam Peters.

Below are my Studs and Duds of the game, followed by some notes.

Studs:

Chris Paul: Gotta give a shout-out to the big man. He was out there moving people and blocking his a$$ off at the second level.

Treylon Burks: I know, I’m reaching a bit here, but I liked what I saw when Burks was targeted. He caught all three of the passes thrown his way for a team-high 58 yards, including a 37 yarder down the left sideline on a play where he was also interfered with.

Duds:

The ENTIRE DEFENSE: What an EMBARRASSMENT this entire unit has become. They can’t even execute the simplest of assignments. A firing needs to happen come Monday; not that I expect it to fix much…

Joe Whitt Jr.: What an incredible DUD Whitt is. His defense allowed a WHOPPING 546 total yards to Detroit. His scheme is the definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

However, I would like to call out some REALLY BIG DUDS…

Bobby Wagner: The “All-Pro” has turned into an all-embarrassment. He can’t run, he can’t cover, he’s only good playing between the B-gaps - yet Quinn and Whitt keep trotting him out there.

Frankie Luvu: The inconsistencies week after week are baffling and the missed tackles and blown coverage assignments continue to plague him. He’s has literally fallen off a cliff.

Mike Sainristil: Sainristil CONTINUES his disastrous season. Right now, I wouldn’t man him up against a 90-year old in a JAZZY.

Quan Martin: The Quan Martin breakout season has been anything but. He’s been one of the biggest liabilities on the team and looks completely lost in coverage. Let’s not even bring up his atrocious tackling.

Daron Payne: Payne is supposed to be a leader of this football team. Instead, he was caught throwing a punch at St. Brown and was ejected in the second quarter.

Johnny Newton: For continuing to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but get dominated in the trenches. He’s been a waste of a high draft pick.

Javon Kinlaw: Kinlaw was seen taunting Goff after being called for an offsides penalty - just after that, following a score by Detroit, he was flagged for hitting a ref on his hat brim.

Dan Quinn and Adam Peters: For thinking a bunch of 30-something vets can still play. What a PATHETIC plan for the 2025 season. Shame on them both!

Notes:

I counted three missed blocks on Bates for the afternoon. I should have him on the Duds list, but at this point I just feel bad for the team.

Ben Sinnott produces every time he touches the ball. Hey Kliff - stop interviewing for college head coaching positions and get Sinnott the damn football!

Jordan Magee is ROUGH. He’s so far from a finished product right now that it’s tough to play him. Still, I’d rather see him out there over Wagner or Luvu.

Ale Kaho can lay the lumber. Too bad he got hurt on a kickoff. It would make some sense to try and get this young man some reps at linebacker - because we can all see the others aren’t getting it done.

Is Kain Medrano THAT bad that he can’t even see the field over the rag-tag group we have at linebacker?

I thought Josh Conerly looked a lot better this game. He held his own in both the run game and pass protection. He pulled a few times and showed very good athleticism getting to his target. His anchor in pass protection is improving each game.

Jonathan Jones had an up and down game, but overall, he looked better than most of the defense.

Jonathan Vilma is a HORRIBLE announcer. If I had to listed to him say how Luvu is the team’s best defender one more time I was going to smash my TV.

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