The Commanders vs Ravens preseason finale was a fairly ugly 30-3 loss – that meant absolutely nothing. Washington sat 33 players, including virtually every starter. The sloppy performance may point to some depth chart concerns, but provides little insight into much else.
Preseason results don’t predict regular season success. Everyone knows this fundamental truth. Yet watching four turnovers and disjointed execution still stings heading into Week 1. The Commanders enter the season with no momentum and lingering Terry McLaurin contract drama.
Ultimately, this wasn’t a real evaluation of Washington’s potential. It was a roster audition for players fighting for practice squad spots.
Commanders vs Ravens Defined by Four Turnovers
The main reason for the lopsided score in the Commanders vs Ravens game was simple: four turnovers. Remove those mistakes and the team statistics were quite similar.
Sam Hartman was responsible for three of the four turnovers. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Worse still, his second interception was returned for a touchdown just before halftime. Everybody in the building knew where he was throwing the ball.
Hartman’s fumble while scrambling gave Baltimore great field position for another score.
The backup quarterback likely played himself off the roster with another poor showing.
Josh Johnson added the fourth turnover with an end zone interception to Tay Martin. He hasn’t been much better than Hartman, but he has been better. It’s not a great situation with Marcus Mariota being eased back in from injury.
Ravens Exploit Sloppy Commanders
Baltimore scored four times in the second quarter alone. The Ravens controlled the ground game with 102 yards on 34 carries. They ran on 13 of their first 14 plays, methodically moving down the field.
Rasheen Ali scored from one yard out after Baltimore’s ground-and-pound opening drive. D’Ernest Johnson added another one-yard touchdown following Matt Gay’s missed 53-yard field goal attempt. The Ravens moved 99 yards in just six plays for that score.
Gay’s struggles continued. The kicker missed another field goal and stands at 3-for-5 during preseason play. His inconsistency adds another concern heading into meaningful games.
Bright Spots
Tight end Colson Yankoff’s 52-yard catch and run was the offensive highlight for the Commanders. The play led to Washington’s only points on Gay’s 47-yard field goal. Yankoff strengthened his roster chances with the explosive reception.
Chris Rodriguez showed promise in limited action with 34 yards on five carries. The running back likely becomes Washington’s RB1 after Brian Robinson Jr’s trade to San Francisco. Rodriguez displayed vision and power in his brief opportunities.
Tyler Owens delivered an impressive pass breakup near halftime. Antonio Hamilton added another strong defensive play in the third quarter. Both players made effective final bids for roster consideration.
Why Commanders vs Ravens Means Nothing
Washington’s approach was crystal clear: protect important players at all costs. Thirty-three players sat out, including every offensive starter. This wasn’t game planning or scheme evaluation.
The Ravens treated their finale similarly, rotating fourth and fifth-string players throughout the second half. Both teams prioritized health over competitive evaluation. Smart organizations understand preseason finale realities.
Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged the performance issues without panic. “We got beat in all three phases,” Quinn said. But immediately deflected the conversation to the roster cuts:
“This is a challenging time for us. You have to make difficult decisions.”
Looking Beyond Commanders vs Ravens Disappointment
Preseason records mean nothing come September. The 2008 Detroit Lions went 4-0 in August, before their winless regular season. The 2017 Cleveland Browns looked sharp in exhibitions, before going 0-16.
Washington’s depth concerns are legitimate after the sloppy showing. Special teams mistakes, quarterback struggles, and kicking inconsistency need attention. The coaching staff has work to do before facing New York.
The Commanders preseason finale was forgettable exhibition football. Four turnovers created an ugly scoreline that hopefully doesn’t reflect the team’s true potential.
Still, entering the regular season without momentum isn’t ideal.
The depth chart questions are tough to answer in late August, but transfer wires will be scoured. require quick answers.
Time to forget the preseason and focus on games that actually matter.