5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' emphatic success at the Chargers

The Washington Commanders had their backs against the wall heading into their Week 5 road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. But as has typically been the case throughout head coach Dan Quinn's leadership, they found a way to get the job done.

It was a rough start. The defense was missing tackles, and things weren't clicking offensively to begin the contest. But a momentum-shifting turnover created by safety Quan Martin turned the tide.

The Commanders seized the initiative. They scored 27 unanswered points and looked like a legitimate force once again. Quinn and his staff looked better prepared, which resulted in a morale-boosting triumph to get their campaign back on track.

It wasn't perfect. At the same time, 3-2 looks a whole lot better than 2-3. Especially considering the Commanders are still missing several influential figures on the health front.

This was the pick-me-up that everyone associated with the franchise needed. Things were teetering for Quinn's squad. They had to show plenty of resolve, but this roster is made of stern stuff. And with quarterback Jayden Daniels back in the lineup, anything is possible.

Building on this is crucial. Before we look too far ahead, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's memorable success at SoFi Stadium.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' win over the Chargers

Winner No. 1

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB

The Washington Commanders have taken their time with Jacory Croskey-Merritt. They've been eager not to put too much on the rookie's shoulders during his initial transition. However, the flashes suggested it wouldn't be long before a genuine breakout emerged.

That happened in Week 5. Croskey-Merritt was nothing short of sensational, and the Commanders rode him heavily. Whether it was gaining the hard yards between the tackles or showcasing the speed to get out on the edge for significant gains, the seventh-round rookie did it all.

Of course, the fumble wasn't ideal. Some big-time flaws in pass protection must be rectified, but this was Croskey-Merritt's coming-out party in no uncertain terms. He accumulated 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns from just 14 carries, and also brought in both targets for 39 receiving yards to round off a highly profitable afternoon at the office.

More importantly, this confirmed Croskey-Merritt as the leading man. The Commanders might be using a committee, but there is no denying who the No. 1 option is moving forward.

Croskey-Merritt has arrived, and the hype train is reaching warp speed after the best performance of his fledgling NFL career to date.

Winner No. 2

Commanders offensive line

Any team coached by Jim Harbaugh is going to be strong in the trenches. The Washington Commanders had to match fire with fire, and the offensive line stepped up to the challenge with a phenomenal performance.

Laremy Tunsil was almost flawless once again. The Commanders had to give up significant resources to acquire the stud left tackle, but he's worth all that and more. Josh Conerly Jr. is improving rapidly, giving Washington a tackle tandem that is quickly becoming a strength.

Washington's interior also held up, providing assured pass protection and crushing running lanes as the Commanders averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Jayden Daniels was sacked just once and got enough time in the pocket to go through his progressions consistently. And the glue that holds it all together, veteran center Tyler Biadasz, was exceptional.

With prolific right guard Sam Cosmi set to make his return in the not-too-distant future, this unit is only going to get better.

Loser No. 1

Chris Moore - Commanders WR

The Commanders didn't have the benefit of Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin in their receiver room once again. Even though that represented a blow, it provided an opportunity for those lower down the pecking order to take advantage.

Some thrived with extra responsibilities on their shoulders. Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane both flashed when their respective numbers were called. Tay Martin also came up with a nice grab. But for Chris Moore, it exposed an ongoing flaw that blighted his time with the organization this summer.

Moore had problems with drops. That proved to be the case in this one, with the wideout dropping a sure-fire touchdown catch that would have put the Commanders in a dominant position down the stretch.

Fortunately, this did not impact the overall result. Even so, it's hard to envisage a scenario where Moore is part of the team's plans once everyone gets healthy.

Winner No. 3

Deebo Samuel Sr. - Commanders WR

Adam Peters drew some raised eyebrows for his decision to trade for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. this offseason. Just five games into the 2025 campaign, it looks like an absolute masterstroke.

Samuel appears to be a different player from the one whose time with the San Francisco 49ers fizzled out. The Commanders had to give up a fifth-round pick to seal the deal, which is absolute chump change compared to his influence so far. And with second-team All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin out through injury, the former South Carolina standout has stepped into the alpha role flawlessly.

Jayden Daniels trusts Samuel to deliver the goods. They've formed a close bond early, and the signal-caller looked to him early and often once he'd shaken off some early rust. The pass-catcher responded, bringing in eight receptions from 11 targets for 96 receiving yards and one touchdown to put the exclamation point on proceedings.

Winner No. 4

Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB

Doubts were creeping in around Bobby Wagner, perhaps for the first time in his future Pro Football Hall of Fame career. His dwindling influence in coverage has been exposed on more than one occasion over the first month of the campaign. These criticisms did not go unnoticed, given the linebacker's performance in this game.

Wagner was at his brilliant best. He led by example, communicating superbly pre-snap, maintaining high standards, and providing a tone-setting force at the defensive second level. The Commanders even utilized his timing on blitz packages to full effect in a couple of crucial moments, turning the tide.

This was more like it from Wagner. He was reportedly spotted in a heated confrontation with his teammates at one stage. The former Utah State standout felt that standards were slipping, and he made everyone aware of it. Fortunately for the Washington Commanders, this brought a positive response.

There is plenty of life in the old dog yet.

Loser No. 2

Zach Ertz - Commanders TE

Fans were expecting veteran tight end Zach Ertz to play an essential role in Week 5. Jayden Daniels was back, and the Commanders were still without Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown. Unfortunately for the Pro Bowler, the Chargers had a game plan in place to nullify his threat.

Ertz was a non-factor in the passing game. He struggled to create separation, and the Chargers did a good job of blanketing him in coverage. Daniels was forced to go elsewhere, leaving the former second-round pick with no receptions from just one target.

Although disappointing, Ertz found other ways to contribute. He was a willing blocker, even though that's never been his specialty. It shows that he's prepared to go above and beyond to help the team, but the blueprint is now out on how to counteract his threat in the passing game.

The Stanford product is experienced enough to shake this one off. Ertz is far too talented for anything less.

Winner No. 5

Commanders defensive front

It was hard to single out just one player from Washington's defensive front. They were superb, setting the tone through hard-nosed physicality that made life extremely uncomfortable for quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Chargers were vulnerable without their two starting offensive tackles, and the Commanders took full advantage of this. Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw were relentless on the interior. Dorance Armstrong and Von Miller came up with 3.5 sacks and looked like a formidable tandem. This was also Johnny Newton's most productive game of the season by a considerable margin.

Even the likes of Jacob Martin, Eddie Goldman, and recent arrival Preston Smith chipped in with some decent moments. There were legitimate concerns around Washington's defensive front before the season, but they've alleviated doubts in no uncertain terms.

The Commanders dominated the trenches on both sides of the football. That was the key that unlocked everything, and all signs are pointing up once again.