3 winners (and 4 losers) from Commanders' calamity against the Dolphins

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag  |  By Dean Jones  |  Last updated Nov 17, 2025 6:00 AM ET

The Washington Commanders were looking to gain some semblance of positivity before the bye. Head coach Dan Quinn made drastic changes throughout the week, but the same problems persisted in a calamitous loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Quinn was immensely frustrated after the game. He knew the Commanders had several chances to put the result out of sight, but they shot themselves in the foot almost constantly. He can change the scheme or take over the defensive play-calling, but he cannot address the individual errors that are holding this team back.

Missed red-zone opportunities, wayward field goals, and sloppy execution in key moments caused Washington's demise. This was a game the Commanders lost, not one Miami won. Marcus Mariota's interception on the first play of overtime represented a microcosm of how things have unfolded for Quinn's squad in 2025.

The Commanders are 3-8. They are staring a potential top-five draft pick in the face, and there will be some difficult upcoming choices to make during Washington's extended period of rest. The players won't stop fighting, but it's not hard to see why fans are turning their attention towards another pivotal offseason for the organization.  

That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are three winners and four losers from Washington's international defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' calamity against the Dolphins

Loser No. 1

Johnny Newton - Commanders DL

With Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne suspended for punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Washington Commanders provided Johnny Newton with a chance to start. The former Illinois standout had been waiting a long time for this moment, but it ended up being an underwhelming day at the office.

Newton doesn't have the size or strength to be impactful against the run. He flashes as a pass-rusher, but the consistency just isn't where it needs to be. The Commanders could see what was unfolding and reacted accordingly, giving veteran Eddie Goldman most of the work on early downs.

Goldman was much more effective. Newton finished with one tackle and far more questions than answers about his long-term outlook. And the fact that he was unable to seize this opportunity tells fans everything about the hard work ahead for the interior defender.

The Commanders thought they had a steal on their hands when Newton slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. But almost two seasons into his professional career, the jury is still well and truly out on that.

Winner No. 1

Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB

The Washington Commanders made it a priority to get the run game going early. And they relied heavily on Chris Rodriguez Jr. to set the tone. Rodriguez was up to the task. He ran aggressively, with physicality and explosiveness. His contact balance is showing genuine improvement, and the former Kentucky star set the tempo that made things easier for veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota.

The 2023 sixth-round pick is clearly the most productive running back on Washington's roster right now, and it's not particularly close. And yet, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury opted almost entirely to ignore his influence over the second half. That is inexcusable.

Kingsbury stated earlier this season that Washington's backfield committee would ride the hot hand from game to game. That was Rodriguez in this one, and he should have continued to be the bell-cow. But alas, it wasn't to be. And the Commanders lost again.

Loser No. 2

Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB

One of the first things head coach Dan Quinn did when taking over the defense was to move cornerback Mike Sainristil back to the boundary. In all honesty, he didn't have much of a choice, with Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Trey Amos both on season-ending injured reserve.

Sainristil started the game well. He gave up a couple of catches with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but that's to be expected. There is still some hesitancy in his game, but it's evident that the Michigan product is more comfortable on the outside.

The 2024 second-round pick is going through some confidence issues right now. But with Jaylin Lane ruled out, the Commanders had nobody else to handle punt return duties. And his grave error, fumbling a return, gave the Dolphins life.

This has been the story of the season for Sainristil. Very few would have been looking forward to the bye week more.

Winner No. 2

Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT

After a baptism of fire throughout the early stages of his rookie campaign, things are starting to come together for Josh Conerly Jr. The Commanders might be in the midst of a disastrous losing run, but the encouraging progress being made by the first-round pick represents a bright spot amid the doom and gloom.

Conerly's given up just two pressures from 63 pass-blocking snaps over the last two contests. He hasn't given up a sack for almost a month. Considering his rude awakening earlier in the campaign, the former Oregon standout is starting to take positive steps forward.

It's not perfect just yet from Conerly, but nobody expected it to be. His pre-snap awareness needs to improve, as does his play strength. But the footwork and pass-pro technique are making impressive strides, which is something he can build upon further after the bye week.

Loser No. 3

Matt Gay - Commanders PK

Not for the first time in recent franchise history, the Washington Commanders have a kicking problem. And general manager Adam Peters' gamble to give Matt Gay the most guaranteed kicker money for a one-year deal in NFL history is starting to backfire.

Gay is dealing with some severe confidence and technical issues. Most of his misses this season have gone wide right. That proved to be the case against the Miami Dolphins, with his two wayward efforts following a similar (and concerning) trend.

The one-time Pro Bowler cut a somber figure after the contest, and rightfully so. This game was decided by razor-thin margins, and Gay couldn't come through. Whether the Commanders use the bye week to bring in competition remains to be seen, but the chances of the veteran sticking around for another year in 2026 are remote.

Gay cannot hit consistently from long range. His flaws aren't going away anytime soon, so a tough decision might be required.

Winner No. 3

Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR

It's no secret that the Commanders are struggling with injuries in their wide receiver room. Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and Treylon Burks were missing in Week 11, so it was always going to be difficult for any offense to navigate these significant absences.

This piled more pressure on Deebo Samuel Sr. to come through. The versatile pass-catcher has been relatively quiet in recent weeks after a strong start. However, his performance was more like what the Commanders envisaged when they sent a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to secure his services.

Samuel looked sharp, explosive, and a threat to gain yards after the catch. The aggression and determination on his touchdown run were superb, eventually finishing the game with seven catches from eight targets for 74 receiving yards and one score. It was Samuel's best output since Week 5. Whether it's enough to get a new deal at season's end is another matter.

Loser No. 4

Kliff Kingsbury - Commanders OC

Kliff Kingsbury is already being strongly linked with head coach vacancies before the 2026 hiring cycle begins. The offensive coordinator resisted the urge to accept offers earlier this year, opting to see out the project and continue his work with star quarterback Jayden Daniels. He might want to reconsider this time around.

And the Commanders could benefit from a fresh change in ideas, because whatever is being deployed right now just isn't working consistently enough.

This was one of Kingsbury's poorer games as a play-caller. There were a few decent moments, but everything seems so hard. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach is also failing to ride waves, as evidenced by the situation involving running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

As previously mentioned, Rodriguez was running the football incredibly well. For Kingsbury to almost completely ignore him over the second half was unacceptable, and the Commanders paid a heavy price.