5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' rousing triumph over the Raiders

After having some extended rest to reflect on a disappointing defeat with the national audience watching, the Washington Commanders finally got the chance to right this wrong against the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a mission they accomplished with minimal fuss.

The Commanders ran out convincing winners, and they never looked in any real danger. Washington's injuries, which also included star quarterback Jayden Daniels, weren't felt. It was a complete team performance that renewed hope about what this squad might be capable of in 2025.

Las Vegas wouldn't be classed as world beaters by any stretch of the imagination. But the ease with which head coach Dan Quinn's team dismantled the Raiders cannot be anything other than encouraging. There were almost no weak links, and they once again displayed the resolve that got them to the NFC Championship game last time around.

Everything is right in the world again. The Commanders are 2-1 with some winnable games upcoming. Health remains the key, but things are looking up.

With that being said, here are five winners and two losers from Washington's convincing success at Northwest Stadium.

Winners and losers from the Commanders' rousing triumph over the Raiders

Winner No. 1

Chris Paul - Commanders OL

The Washington Commanders caused a massive stir before the game when Brandon Coleman — who'd started the first two games at left guard — was listed as a healthy scratch. Most fans thought Nick Allegretti would fill the void with Andrew Wylie coming into the lineup, but the coaching staff had someone else in mind.

Chris Paul got the nod. The 2022 seventh-round selection is one of the last remaining players drafted by Ron Rivera who are still on the team. He didn't feature much last season, but the Commanders credited the player for making some improvements this summer. With Coleman struggling to find the consistency needed, Washington made the switch.

It paid off handsomely. Paul was nothing short of outstanding throughout. His athletic skills look well-suited to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's blocking concepts, and he stone-walled everyone in his path to stake a strong claim for starting involvement moving forward.

Paul didn't give up a sack. He didn't even give up one pressure. The former Tulsa standout looked assured, powerful, and confident. Having this added stability made things much easier, and the entire offense ran more efficiently.

The Raiders have some real talent on their defensive front. Paul managed to hold up his end of the bargain by neutralizing anyone who came within his vicinity.

Winner No. 2

Dorance Armstrong Jr. - Commanders DE

Winning in the trenches is the key to everything for the Washington Commanders, on both sides of the football. They made this an emphasis to overwhelm the Las Vegas Raiders from start to finish.

Dorance Armstrong Jr. led the edge-rushing rom once again. He's growing in stature with every game that passes. The former Kansas prospect is adding some technical prowess to his pass-rushing moves. There is some added power, and the player is clearly brimming with confidence right now.

Armstrong helped himself to another sack — his third in as many contests. He also notched five tackles, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit. But more importantly, his production opened things up for others after the Raiders were forced to slide protection in his direction.

There are still some concerns about whether the Commanders have enough on the edge when they come up against the NFL's best. But if Armstrong keeps playing like this, they'll be just fine.

Loser No. 1

Will Harris - Commanders S

There weren't many sour notes to take from a convincing showing. However, not for the first time this season, some injury problems once again reared their head.

Percy Butler and Trey Amos both left the game late. Marshon Lattimore was evaluated for a concussion, which is something else for fans to monitor. These issues pale into insignificance compared to the complication suffered by veteran safety Will Harris.

The concerns for Harris were immediate when he went down. He didn't return, and reports now suggest that the defensive back is set to miss considerable time — potentially even the entire season — after fracturing his fibula.

If the fracture is significant, Harris is done for the year. Jeremy Reaves filled in and played well. The Commanders also have Butler and Tyler Owens to pick up the slack, so the options are there to compensate for another significant loss.

Winner No. 3

Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR

Jayden Daniels was unavailable for the contest with a sprained knee. Marcus Mariota is a capable understudy, but without a franchise player to lean on, others had to step up.

That didn't just apply to the offense. Every phase had to make a bigger impact on proceedings. Thankfully for the Commanders, they answered the call en route to an emphatic victory to send the home fans away happy.

This was especially evident in the return game. Deebo Samuel Sr. set the tone right out of the gate with a blistering kickoff run that put the Commanders in tremendous early field position. It was a trend that continued throughout the contest, and Jaylin Lane shook Northwest Stadium to its foundations with an explosive punt return that went all the way for six.