ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders took out the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 to the tune of 34-13.
In the game, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 238 yards, a touchdown and recorded another 82 yards rushing.
Washington's Dan Quinn praised the home crowd for showing up and showing out as he said the team was “dripping” in the energy the fans brought to Northwest Stadium.
At the end of the day, the Commanders stand alone at the top of the NFC East Division with four wins in five games. That’s the wide angle, but there’s a closer angle to it as well; the nuts and bolts of winning, if you will. And that’s where the magic really happens in the NFL.
For example, rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey’s big-time block against Browns cornerback Denzel Ward on running back Brian Robinson Jr.’s first touchdown run. And on another play, this one made by receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who charged downfield trailing a 50-yard run by running back Austin Ekeler only to find himself in the exact right place he needed to be to recover a fumble at the Cleveland 23-yard line.
"[That's] my favorite play of the season so far,” Coach Quinn told WUSA9’s Chick Hernandez in his weekly exclusive interview the day after the game. “Because of the way that Olamide, and Terry [McLaurin], and Luke were trying to get out in front of Austin to go finish.”
Zaccheaus started that play on the opposite side of the field. So not only did he chase Ekeler as he sprinted 50 yards downfield, he had to do it while crossing the playing surface on top of it. All effort, no brakes, as the kids say.
“To make that decision, I’m just gonna run and I’m gonna bust my ass to try and get out in the front, just because I know he’s down the field and like I’m gonna go work for him," Quinn said.
Those are the plays that lead to winning football. And in the DMV, it’s that kind of football that Quinn intended for his players and his staff to put on display. Because Quinn says, that kind of play represents the DMV and the spirit of the region.
“I want that to be representative of who we are here in the DMV,” Quinn says. “This toughness, this physicality, this effort.”
