LANDOVER, Md. — Sam Cosmi doesn’t do public speaking. These Washington Commanders propelled the offensive lineman to express himself.
Minutes after a gut-punching, 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it might seem odd to pipe up inside a somber home locker room for the first time this season.
The Steelers delivered the final blow in the back-and-forth slugfest with Russell Wilson’s go-ahead 32-yard strike to Mike Williams with 2:22 remaining. Washington fell to 7-3 and, combined with the Eagles hammering the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, dropped to second place in the NFC East ahead of Thursday’s battle in Philadelphia.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels and Washington’s highly efficient offense never found a rhythm against the stout Steelers’ defense. For the team that ended its previous home game with a Hail Mary winner, nobody stopped believing after Williams’ score or when the Steelers stopped tight end Zach Ertz for an 8-yard catch on fourth down when Washington needed nine. The Commanders converted all 11 of their fourth-down attempts entering the game.
With a chance to regain possession, rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton was drawn offside on a final fourth-down play — the kind of fourth down everyone knows is designed to get the defense to jump.
Such moments went in Washington’s favor as it won seven of its previous eight games. Against an AFC contender, Washington’s minor and significant mistakes contributed to breaks going the other way.
“It was the little things for sure,” Cosmi told reporters postgame. “I mean, for a one-point game, the little things really matter.”
Cosmi arrived as a second-round pick in 2021, meaning he lived through the organization’s chaos and missteps over his three seasons. That atmosphere didn’t get the “not vocal guy” who avoids talking before large groups due primarily to growing up with a stutter.
“There’s something about this year,” Cosmi told a small group of reporters. “I have so much faith in this team to be vocal, have my voice out there and hopefully make a difference.”
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
Coach Dan Quinn cited a pregame talker for wise words. He shared that future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner helped focus the team before kickoff with thoughts on “moments and opportunities.”
“Moments to show how you play and why you play this game,” Wagner told The Athletic.
The Commanders were short-handed in numerous spots. Zane Gonzalez hit two field goals while replacing injured kicker Austin Seibert, and the beat-up offensive line required all its depth. The Commanders pushed the Steelers (7-2) regardless, undeterred by absence, muffs and Pittsburgh’s towel-waving fans invading Northwest Stadium. Unlike the previous game in this stadium, this one came without a Hail Mary finish.
Pittsburgh cornerback James Pierre, a member of Washington’s training camp this summer, dropped a pass off a fake punt from the Steelers’ 16-yard line with only grass between him and the end zone. Austin Ekeler scored the first of two 1-yard touchdown runs on the next possession. Number two came with 16 seconds left in the first half following one of Washington’s better drives.
The first play of the second half validated Washington’s surge. Terry McLaurin turned a slant pass from Daniels into a 54-yard catch-and-run. Jeremy McNichols rushed from 1 yard out four plays later to give Washington its largest lead at 24-14.
Jayden Daniels goes to Terry McLaurin for 54 yards on the first play of the 2nd half!
📺: #PITvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/rqi1WGGyda— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
However, the playmakers were quiet besides McLaurin (five receptions, 113 yards). Daniels finished 17-of-34 for 202 yards, plus a season-low 5 rushing yards on three attempts. Washington rushed for just 60 yards.
“Hats off to them,” Daniels said of Pittsburgh’s defense. “This is a great scheme they had … we didn’t make the plays (or capitalize on) opportunities when they presented themselves.”
There were moments players wished they could get back. Olamide Zaccheaus muffed two punts. The one recovered by Pittsburgh led to Wilson’s second of three touchdown passes, a 3-yarder to tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second quarter.
Maybe previous teams leaned into excuses about injuries, which these Commanders had many before and during the game. Without starting running back Brian Robinson Jr., sidelined for a second consecutive week with a hamstring injury, the ground game struggled.
The Commanders decided pregame that right tackle Andrew Wylie (shoulder) would be only used in case of emergency, thrusting fourth-stringer Trent Scott into the lineup against Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, co-owner of the league’s single-season sack record. Center Tyler Biadasz hobbled around much of the game on a hurting ankle. Powerful Pittsburgh nose tackle Cameron Heyward showed no mercy — and the Commanders stood tall.
Cosmi praised Scott’s work for Watt’s quiet day, though a fourth-quarter pass rush — away from Scott — forced a third-down Daniels incompletion from Washington’s 3-yard line. The Steelers’ pass rush caused problems overall and seemingly had Daniels off his game far more than usual. Some passes downfield, like one to a streaking Luke McCaffrey, required more loft. Others were a tick off-target.
Washington’s cornerbacks being on the wrong end of several impressive throws by Wilson showed why the team traded for Marshon Lattimore ahead of the deadline. Out with a hamstring — Quinn said all injury decisions were based on this game, and not facing the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday — Lattimore will take on the toughest covers when healthy.
Steelers receiver George Pickens’ acrobatic 16-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter opened the scoring. Williams’ straight-line route against Benjamin St-Juste became the decisive points.
RUSSELL WILSON TO MIKE WILLIAMS! @STEELERS LEAD!
📺: #PITvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/zM3oWDIj95— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
“Really good throw and catch,” Quinn said of the final touchdown. “Just another example of fighting to fight through a good pass and catch. You gotta turn back into it, but nothing that was unusual about the call or any of that.”
Washington’s positive moments were overshadowed by enough flubs to fail.
“The little things always add up,” Daniels said.
Cosmi concurred. He blamed himself for letting a Steelers lineman take Daniels down on a QB draw. He also wasn’t about to see his teammate exit the building feeling a certain way.
The lineman sees a tough group from one to 53 that steps up “when their name is called.” There are players ready for game day “no matter where they are on the depth chart.” Knowing teammates will fight for each other “makes you play so much harder. It means so much more,” Cosmi said.
He wanted to leave players and coaches with that feeling as they headed home. Such displays weren’t in his bag before. Washington’s new “standard” set over months together is why Cosmi needed to speak.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
