Commanders’ skid continues with overtime loss to Dolphins in Madrid

MADRID — The Commanders found a new way to lose on Sunday as they recorded their sixth-straight defeat in a heartbreaking 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. 

There was plenty of blame to go around as the Commanders committed a handful of key mistakes that ultimately doomed the 3-8 squad. 

Cornerback Mike Sainristil muffed a punt with four minutes left. Kicker Matt Gay missed a potential game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was starting in place of an injured Jayden Daniels, tossed an interception on the first play of overtime. 

They all tried to accept responsibility after the loss. 

“That’s on me,” said Gay. “We win that game if that kick goes in.”

“Defense played unbelievable today,” Mariota told reporters. “We just didn’t convert.”

“I like to say I’m a playmaker,” Sainristil, one of the last players to speak, noted in the locker room. “When those opportunities come your way, you just got to make them. I’m holding myself accountable.”

Eating the blame doesn’t soften the indigestion of another loss as the season continues to spiral out of control. In fact, coming tantalizingly close to snapping the losing skid might’ve been even tougher to swallow. 

“Whenever you get close and it feels like a win, and t doesn’t happen, it sucks,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “It’s a long way to travel to come up short.”

The Commanders played to a 6-6 tie in the first half with both teams trading field goals. Washington’s much-maligned defense appeared to be playing significantly faster after back-to-back blowouts, which saw opponents score more than 24 points in the first half.

Washington even forced a punt for the first time in 15 possessions in the first half. 

“I was happy to see some guys smiling for the first time,” defensive end Jacob Martin said, slyly referring to the group’s season-long struggles. 

Washington’s offense opened the second half fast — with a six-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in an electric 20-yard catch-and-run score by receiver Deebo Samuel.

It gave the Commanders a 13-6 lead and marked their final points of the game. 

Sunday marked the first game that head coach Dan Quinn called plays for the defense, taking the responsibility away from assistant Joe Whitt Jr. The results were promising. 

The defense marked an impressive goal-line stand in the third quarter before allowing its lone touchdown of the day to Dolphins’ halfback Ollie Gordon on a goal-line run. 

Miami’s starting running back, De’Von Achane, carried the Dolphins offense with 120 yards rushing and an additional 45 yards as a receiver. 

The Commanders kept the Dolphins’ passing attack in check, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 14 of his 20 passes for just 171 yards. 

It was the other units — the offense and special teams — that committed the fatal mistakes. 

With the game tied at 13, the offense went for a fourth-and-goal from Miami’s one-yard line. Mariota dropped back to pass and tried to connect with his tight end, Zach Ertz. But the 34-year-old pass-catcher slipped on the Madrid grass, allowing the pass to fall incomplete. 

“Foot just gave out and slid on the turf,” Ertz said. “Not that it’s an excuse, it’s just one of those things I couldn’t control. Was going to walk in, probably, if I didn’t slip like that. Play I’ve done 10,000 times in my career, never slipped like that.”

The Commanders’ defense was up to the task, though. They immediately forced a three-and-out, thanks to a third-down sack by edge rusher Von Miller. 

The football gods weren’t done cursing the Commanders. Sainristil was back to return the punt, stepping up to fill in for the injured Jaylin Lane, who joined the ever-growing list of hobbled Washington skill players with a hip injury.

Sainristil failed to commit to catching the ball or letting it bounce out of bounds, ultimately muffing the punt and giving Miami the ball at Washington’s 42-yard line with four minutes remaining.

“I’ve just got to catch the ball,” Sainristil said after the game. “I just got to be decisive whether I’m going to peter it or fair-catch it. Either way, I’ve just got to catch the ball.”

For most of the season, the final four minutes would’ve been a formality. But the reenergized Washington defense was ready to compete. The Dolphins again marched the ball toward the Commanders’ goal line and again stalled in the red zone. 

With a chance to take a touchdown lead, Miami tried to hand off to Gordon. Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu stuffed him in the backfield.

But the defensive stand forced Washington to burn their remaining timeouts. Mariota still orchestrated a last-second drive that stalled near the Miami 40-yard line with 15 seconds left. 

Quinn called on Gay to attempt the game-winning kick. He missed wide to the right. 

“It felt good off my foot,” he said. “For whatever reason, didn’t go my way.”

The defense didn’t have a chance to play the hero in overtime. The Commanders received the ball to start the period. Mariota tossed an interception when targeting Ertz on the first play of the period.  

“They covered our first couple of options well. I tried to get back side to Zach,” said Mariota, who threw for 213 yards on 20-of-30 passing. “Guy undercut it and made a play. Unfortunate there, and give credit to him. He made a good play.”

Ertz tried to shield his signal-caller from taking the entirety of the blame. 

“I could’ve at least maybe batted the ball down or something,” he said. 

But he didn’t. Miami quickly kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal to end the game. 

The Commanders are now on their bye week, giving them extra time to stew on the defeat before hosting the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30.