The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team unless specified by a direct quote.
The Washington Commanders travelled west to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers in Week 5. Here are three keys to them getting a win.
1. Establish the run.
The Washington Commanders have been better than almost any other team at running the ball over the last four weeks. They're second in yards per game and yards per attempt with eight players who have at least one carry. For all the Chargers do well on defense, their ability to stop the run is around the middle of the league. So, leaning into the ground attack might be the best way for Washington to come away with a win.
Although Washington's quarterbacks and wide receiver Deebo Samuel are key pieces of the run game, the team relies mostly on its three-pronged attack of Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt continues to be a pleasant surprise in the Commanders' backfield; he has the best running grade in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 1.71 yards over expected per attempt ranks third among running backs, per NextGenStats.
The only hitch in the Commanders' ground attack is that it hasn't been utilized as much as those of other teams. Their 105 rushing attempts are tied for 17th with the New England Patriots, who rank 25th in yards per game. That lack of usage can be partially blamed on struggling to stay on the field, as their average time of possession (28th) and plays per game (23rd) are among the lowest in the league. They were down two scores in the first half during both their losses, which can make it more difficult to run the ball.
And there's evidence to show the Chargers can be beaten with a strong ground game. The New York Giants ran the ball 42 times for 161 yards in a 21-18 win. It wasn't pretty, but it was enough, and that's all the Commanders need it to be.
2. Take advantage of the Chargers' offensive line.
The Chargers are dealing with several injuries up front. Rashawn Slater is currently on the Reserve/Injured list, while their other starting tackle, Joe Alt, is dealing with a high ankle sprain that will keep him out for several weeks. There's also Mekhi Becton, who is trying to get out of the concussion protocol. The potential lack of three starters could provide an opportunity for the Commanders' defensive front.
The Chargers were already having problems with protecting Justin Herbert before their injuries on the offensive line. Justin Herbert has been sacked 12 times so far this season, which is tied for the fifth most in the league. That hasn't stopped him from throwing for the fourth most passing yards among quarterbacks this season, but it does add to the importance of getting him off his spot.
Other teams have had this idea, too. Herbert has been under pressure on 69 dropbacks -- the third most among quarterbacks. His completion rate dips from 76.5% down to 39.2%, which ranks 34th, when under pressure. Two of his three interceptions also came when he was under duress. He's also tied for third most throwaway passes in those situations.
The Commanders' secondary will be facing a difficult matchup on Sunday against the fifth best passing offense in the league. The best way to stop it, and protect the Commanders' defensive backs, is to make Herbert's afternoon as difficult as possible.
3. Force turnovers.
Turnovers have been difficult to come by for the Commanders' defense. They got their first last week, thanks to Mike Sainristil's interception, but they have yet to consistently capitalize on opportunities to take the ball away.
The Chargers had done a good job of protecting the ball away prior to their matchup with the Giants. However, New York managed to force two interceptions out of Herbert and made the Chargers pay for their mistakes. They got 10 points off those turnovers, including a touchdown that made the score 21-10 at the end of the third quarter.
The Commanders will need to do a better job of getting points off turnovers than the field goal scored after Sainristil's interception, but they must come away with the ball on turnover opportunities. They nearly had another turnover against the Falcons on a fumble in the first quarter and had an interception against the Giants wiped away by a penalty.
The Commanders have often spoken about execution after their losses. They were mostly referring to miscommunication and allowing explosive plays, but that also applies to finishing plays that could give their offense the ball back.
