INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Commanders gave their followers an early Christmas current on Sunday afternoon in a 28-20 loss to the Rams, by liberating up their vacation calendar.

Christmas Eve in opposition to the Jets? Take pleasure in your uncle’s white elephant reward trade. New 12 months’s Eve in opposition to the Niners? Get an excellent nap in earlier than a protracted night time of festivities.

The narrative getting into this four-game stretch was that it was a possibility to see which gamers may very well be foundational items for a future workforce. The reply was clear — not many. Take pleasure in your holidays, and test again in for some hope and alter in January.

Washington’s offensive line continues to offer Sam Howell little in the way in which of assist. Sam Cosmi may keep, however the participant with essentially the most to show — Saahdiq Charles — was largely disappointing.

Howell struggled, whereas Jacoby Brissett supplied a fast spark, and fast throws, in reduction, however with a top-five draft choose incoming, it might be irresponsible for this workforce to not look at all doable choices at quarterback, irrespective of how the season performs out.

Subsequent season’s tight ends aren’t on the roster, until the brand new regime desires to maintain Logan Thomas as a veteran voice. 

Heck, there isn’t even a protracted snapper. Ron Rivera as soon as traded a draft choose to draft Camaron Cheeseman. On Sunday, he obtained Tress Means injured along with his errant snapping.

“I’ve been nervous all yr,” Cheeseman mentioned of his job safety. “Most locations I wouldn’t be round nonetheless, so I’m taking each week as it’s.”

Rivera mentioned the lengthy snapping on Sunday “wasn’t ok, and we’re going to judge that.” 

Search for an advert in Tuesday’s Instances: “Wished: New deck chairs for the Titanic.”

On protection, issues haven’t been any higher because the dismissal of Jack Del Rio. Washington continues to surrender explosive performs at an alarming charge, and hasn’t had any semblance of a go rush since buying and selling Montez Sweat and Chase Younger. Then there was the 62-yard landing by Cooper Kupp.

“We have now two other ways of enjoying that, and we couldn’t get on the identical web page at the moment,” cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste mentioned. “Yeah, these sorts of performs, you simply should fully eradicate them.”

Right here’s the underside line: The Commanders haven’t give up. They aren’t phoning it in. They’re simply plain dangerous.

That’s discouraging information for followers hoping for a fast rebuild, although within the NFL, with wage cap area and good draft picks, it’s by no means as far-off because it appears.

It means the probabilities of Eric Bieniemy hanging round as head coach are exceedingly slim, no reflection on the person however somewhat the circumstance. Rivera, whose impending departure was breathlessly reported this weekend by The Athletic, will play out the string, as grim as it might be.