Official Game Thread - Preseason Week 3 - Commanders @ Ravens

[Commander PK]

I asked ChatGPT this question.

“When was the last time a team that lost a pre-season game 41-3 made the NFL playoffs or won a Super Bowl?”

This was its response…if you want to feel a little bit better. Although what bothers me substantially more is not the scoreboard but the attitude.

“Yes — there’s a very recent precedent, and it’s almost comically close to what Washington just did.

The 2023 Los Angeles Rams lost their final preseason game 41–0 to Denver — actually worse than Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. They then went 10–7 and made the playoffs that same season.

An even better example is the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles. In their preseason finale, Miami absolutely demolished them 48–10, a 38-point margin — exactly the same margin as Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. Philadelphia then went 14–3, won the NFC, and reached Super Bowl LVII, losing to Kansas City 38–35.

And this isn’t just cherry-picking. When Buffalo was annihilated 38–0 by Chicago in the 2025 preseason, a historical review noted that the two biggest comparable preseason beatdowns of the previous decade were:

* 2022 Eagles: lost 48–10 → reached the Super Bowl
* 2023 Rams: lost 41–0 → reached the playoffs

So as ugly as Baltimore 41, Washington 3 was — 456–177 in total yards and 26–7 in first downs — Washington also kept 41 players inactive, and the game was largely deep backups and roster-bubble players.

Bottom line: a 38-point preseason loss tells us remarkably little about whether Washington can be a playoff team. In fact, the last two NFL teams before Washington to lose a preseason game by 38+ points both made the playoffs, and one went all the way to the Super Bowl.

So if your question is essentially, “Should I be panicking about the Commanders after tonight?” — no. Not because of this game. I’d be considerably more concerned if Washington looks remotely like this with Daniels, the starting offensive line, McLaurin, the starting defense, etc. on the field in September.”

 

[Hogwallop]

We need to develop an AI superintelligence thats also a Redskins fan. Problems solved

 

[RedWolf]

Spanked 41.3 I just saw it and I did not watch the game intentionally

 

[Conn]

Haven't watched this...so that's good.

Recently a lot of stats have circulated indicating pre-season play doesn't matter. That's good. Instead play in joint-practices matter. Oops...that's bad.

Our 53 Man Roster on Sunday will have a huge asterisk. Cause the roster come Monday after waiver claims will look different.

It better. The deeper depth on this team has proven to mostly not be NFL caliber, so no excuses not to shift some things around.

 

[Conn]

what year is it that you can honestly grade a draft pick though? Seriously we arent a patient bunch. The situation these guys are digging themselves out of may require a little bit.

It’s reasonable that you feel this way. Who are the future pro bowlers or All-Pro’s on the roster who haven’t broken out, do you think? And which guys will develop into strong foundational starters worth re-signing as the end of their rookie contracts approach? I expect you have a pretty impressive list of guys you have high expectations for after three drafts with lots of premium picks used, if you disagree that the drafting isn’t looking so hot

 

[Conn]

We repeated last preseason after saying we were going to do it differently.

Yep. Got scared by the injuries that happened and got reactive, as this regime always does.

 

[Conn]

preseason is going the way of the probowl, but you have to pay to watch it

Plenty of teams get good, valuable work in during the preseason. We just aren’t one of those teams.

 

[McD5]

Real teams just don't look like this, or have these issues.

Howie Roseman wouldn't start a season with this offensive line.

Buffalo and KC don't have this dysfunctional crap year after year.

Those teams are playing an entirely different sport.

 

[DontTazeMeBro]

I asked ChatGPT this question.

“When was the last time a team that lost a pre-season game 41-3 made the NFL playoffs or won a Super Bowl?”

This was its response…if you want to feel a little bit better. Although what bothers me substantially more is not the scoreboard but the attitude.

“Yes — there’s a very recent precedent, and it’s almost comically close to what Washington just did.

The 2023 Los Angeles Rams lost their final preseason game 41–0 to Denver — actually worse than Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. They then went 10–7 and made the playoffs that same season.

An even better example is the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles. In their preseason finale, Miami absolutely demolished them 48–10, a 38-point margin — exactly the same margin as Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. Philadelphia then went 14–3, won the NFC, and reached Super Bowl LVII, losing to Kansas City 38–35.

And this isn’t just cherry-picking. When Buffalo was annihilated 38–0 by Chicago in the 2025 preseason, a historical review noted that the two biggest comparable preseason beatdowns of the previous decade were:

* 2022 Eagles: lost 48–10 → reached the Super Bowl
* 2023 Rams: lost 41–0 → reached the playoffs

So as ugly as Baltimore 41, Washington 3 was — 456–177 in total yards and 26–7 in first downs — Washington also kept 41 players inactive, and the game was largely deep backups and roster-bubble players.

Bottom line: a 38-point preseason loss tells us remarkably little about whether Washington can be a playoff team. In fact, the last two NFL teams before Washington to lose a preseason game by 38+ points both made the playoffs, and one went all the way to the Super Bowl.

So if your question is essentially, “Should I be panicking about the Commanders after tonight?” — no. Not because of this game. I’d be considerably more concerned if Washington looks remotely like this with Daniels, the starting offensive line, McLaurin, the starting defense, etc. on the field in September.”

Just stop. for the love of god. STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are not a good team, our offensive line sucks ass. Keep snorting the kool-aide..........hopefully reality will set in.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Local media seemed to take it as a given that no starters would get time tonight (despite how little work they got the last two weeks), but I see plenty of starters getting work across the league tonight in week 3. And some of them are much better players than our starters that you’d want to risk much less.

Finlay-Mitch who definitiely lean on the homer side of life post game podcast:

A. Washington played Jayden-starters less than most other teams -- questionable.

I recall previously JP defended the lack of playing time by citing Herbery did a three and out too and left the game. But lol, Herbert did play this week. So that analogy doesn't hold anymore

B. if this team plays poorly this season -- Quinn and Peters deserve to be on the hot seat

C. The team coming off flat -- isn't that on Quinn?

 

[skinsinparadise]

We repeated last preseason after saying we were going to do it differently.

True at least as to preseason game reps. If they start slow....

 

[skinsinparadise]

From JLC writing from the Ravens perspective

OL Iffy​

...The Ravens barely played anyone they expect to see the field in heavy doses all summer long. There isn’t a whole lot to be gleaned from Baltimore’s absolute thrashing of Washington to cap a perfect preseason schedule, 41-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. Rookie head coach Jesse Minter’s uber-conservative deployment of players (third-round pick Ja’Kobi Lane joined the host of healthy scratches) rendered this largely a battle for practice squad spots, but some individuals continued to help themselves,

I don’t love the depth on this offense line at all. They got beat up really bad in Minnesota last week and this was a blowout and all, but a lot of things went Baltimore’s way (amazing field position, turnovers, Washington’s back-ups stink). Ehtan Pocic got a run at center to try to ensure he is in game shape for Week 1, but aint no way Jovaughn Gwyn is starting over him.

Ravens Need A New Kicker, And 5 Other Key Takeaways From Blowout Preseason Win

The Ravens barely played anyone they expect to see the field in heavy doses all summer long. But you have to play your specialists. And if the reason they refus

www.si.com

 

[DWinzit]

Center Ethan Pocic signed with the Ravens on July 23 for a one year deals worth up to $4.5 mil. That could have been us

 

[DWinzit]

Finlay-Mitch who definitiely lean on the homer side of life post game podcast:

A. Washington played Jayden-starters less than most other teams -- questionable.

I recall previously JP defended the lack of playing time by citing Herbery did a three and out too and left the game. But lol, Herbert did play this week. So that analogy doesn't hold anymore

B. if this team plays poorly this season -- Quinn and Peters deserve to be on the hot seat

C. The team coming off flat -- isn't that on Quinn?

Blaming the team being flat should land right on DQ's shoulders for sure!

It's a really bad look coming off an ugly rest of preseason.

If we enter the regular season and that tough schedule looking that bad, will we see AP begin to separate himself from DQ?

I sure hope the D looks like what we think it should and the OL can get to some sort of a decent level. That will take a healthy Allegretti or a yet to be acquired C

 

[burgold]

DQ promised to change it up this offseason and we heard great things the first two weeks through the first intrasquad scrimmage against Miami. Then after that, he reversed course and went back to his old ways during every preseason game and it really felt like the team lost its edge.

Again, preseason may not matter but then again, it might.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Just saying, if Coleman is above average, and if Sainristil plays well in this scheme...then the 2024 draft is a smash hit despite not feeling like it.

3 good starters from 1 draft class is considered phenomenal.

What's disappointing is the other 3 Day 2 picks are looking to be worse than replacement level. So it sort of sours it.

But that's the mantra of the draft, there's a degree of randomness, and just having more picks to take more swings to get more hits is the best strategy.

 

[Boone]

I am a 'preseason means nothing' kind of a guy. There is no historical correlation between preseason play and regular season records. However - the problem with that viewpoint is that, at least so far in Dan Quinn's tenure here, we tend to see the same uninspired, poor execution, and general state of unreadiness in the first 3 or 4 games that we saw in preseason.

I will keep saying it. Replacing both coordinators in the same offseason on a team that struggled mightily to even be competitive the previous season - you are essentially starting completely over. To not expect a LOT of growing pains would be unrealistic. And we don't yet have the talent or coaching experience in many places, to overcome growing pains in the short-term.

I would've preferred we put all of our presumed starters out there for a quarter (either in the Lions game or last night). I know that's risky, but I don't sense any kind of confidence from the players and coaches. In fact, they seem worried. I don't think getting shellacked by the Ravens (preseason game or not) contributes to a sense of 'we got this' heading into real games. I frequently don't agree with Dan Quinn's approach and this is just another example.

 

[Hailer]

If the score was flipped my thoughts on this team would not have changed one bit. Would yours?

As I’ve repeated many times over the last 48-72 hours of doom that has overtaken this board, I’m gonna let some actual results trickle in before bring out my pitch fork.

IF we come out flat against Philly and Dallas, I will hold that against DQ very heavily. Philly has new coordinators too. Our guys better find the “juice” before the first snap.

 

[DWinzit]

If the score was flipped my thoughts on this team would not have changed one bit. Would yours?

As I’ve repeated many times over the last 48-72 hours of doom that has overtaken this board, I’m gonna let some actual results trickle in before bring out my pitch fork.

IF we come out flat against Philly and Dallas, I will hold that against DQ very heavily. Philly has new coordinators too. Our guys better find the “juice” before the first snap.

If the score were flipped I'd think we have some really good depth and are at a point where other teams will be interested in the players we release. Instead I feel our depth stinks and we need to scour other teams cuts.

I'd also not be left thinking how in the world can the team come out that flat? Instead I'd feel good about the teams attitude moving forward, like they were I a good head space as DQ might say. Instead they looked like they were in outer space some of the time

Yeah how can they not have the juice if they are enttrenched in battles for roster spots? And that's not only for this team but if they get cut, it would be potentially for other teams

 

[skinsinparadise]

Just saying, if Coleman is above average, and if Sainristil plays well in this scheme...then the 2024 draft is a smash hit despite not feeling like it.

3 good starters from 1 draft class is considered phenomenal.

What's disappointing is the other 3 Day 2 picks are looking to be worse than replacement level. So it sort of sours it.

But that's the mantra of the draft, there's a degree of randomness, and just having more picks to take more swings to get more hits is the best strategy.

They had extra picks that year, so to me it's not apples-to-apples with a typical draft. Part of the narrative back then was that Peters actually inherited an attractive situation — extra picks and high draft position combined.

With 6 top-100 picks: I'm guessing Jayden remains a stud. Coleman is a decent but not special LT. Sainristil's an average CB — mixed so far, shaky in coverage but good at generating picks. I don't think that's a smash draft. But it's not as bad as some make it out to be either.

For me, Peters is overrated by some and underrated by others. I think he's mediocre. That said, he's better than Bruce and Cerrato — much smoother, magnetic smile, good guy, talks the talk. Bruce came off like a politician. Vinny came off like a buffoon.

He gets some defiant defenders — whether here, local media, or talk radio — who act like criticizing him means you're missing some deeper method to the madness. As if the more measured, less fan-driven criticism is off-base because we're all missing the hidden logic behind every move.

Then he's got critics who act like he's Bruce Round 2, and treat him as borderline incompetent.

I find most critics here actually take the middle ground on him. I think most of us understand every GM has some method to their madness. Sometimes, just for sport, I'll take the pro-Peters spin and run with it to show I can play that game too. But my actual point on him so far: he hasn't yet shown he has the chops to compete with the better front offices in the league.

As a guy — the Hollywood-casting version of a GM — he's a 10 out of 10. As an evaluator, he's IMO a 5 out of 10. If someone wants to argue 6, fine. Now that can improve going forward. My biggest sell of Peters is he comes off as a dude who learns from his mistakes. I am hoping we don't need though another season of misery for him to learn some more.

I still think the season can turn out OK if they can figure out the O line. I love Jayden. I like now this WR corp. And I like the front 7.