Burgundy & Gold Reaction: Team Undisciplined and Not Well Coached

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October 15, 2026

by David Earl

How Second-Half Splits Reveal Washington’s Structural Flaws 

Washington currently sits at a frustrating 1-3-1 on the 2026 season, a record that leads into a deeper story seen within the team’s weekly stat sheets. When analyzing the numbers from NFL.com, ESPN, and Pro Football Reference, the stats show a picture of a team mostly divided by the first and second half. Washington operates like two entirely different teams depending on the clock, raising critical questions about the team’s ability to adjust when in game adjustments are required. To understand the root of Washington’s struggles, let’s look closely at the contrast between their statistical averages and their game-by-game execution. The following is a game-by-game statistical split (1st half vs. 2nd half):

Week 1: Washington Commanders 22 @ Philadelphia Eagles 24

  • Offense:
    • Third Down %: 1st Half: 30.8% | 2nd Half: 35.7%
    • Red Zone TD %: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 66.7%
    • Yards Per Play: 1st Half: 4.2 | 2nd Half: 5.6
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt: 1st Half: 3.8 | 2nd Half: 5.1
    • Yards Per Reception: 1st Half: 9.1 | 2nd Half: 11.4
    • Completion Percentage: 1st Half: 52.0% | 2nd Half: 61.5%
    • Penalties: 1st Half: 4 | 2nd Half: 2
  • Defense:
    • Third Down % Allowed: 1st Half: 44.4% | 2nd Half: 41.7%
    • Red Zone TD % Allowed: 1st Half: 66.7% | 2nd Half: 50.0%
    • Yards Per Play Allowed: 1st Half: 5.8 | 2nd Half: 5.1
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt Allowed: 1st Half: 4.4 | 2nd Half: 3.6
    • Yards Per Reception Allowed: 1st Half: 12.8 | 2nd Half: 11.2
    • Completion Percentage Allowed: 1st Half: 66.7% | 2nd Half: 60.0%
    • Penalties Inflicted: 1st Half: 0 | 2nd Half: 0

Week 2: Washington Commanders 20 @ Dallas Cowboys 37

  • Offense:
    • Third Down %: 1st Half: 25.0% | 2nd Half: 33.3%
    • Red Zone TD %: 1st Half: 0.0% | 2nd Half: 50.0%
    • Yards Per Play: 1st Half: 4.0 | 2nd Half: 4.9
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt: 1st Half: 4.1 | 2nd Half: 4.5
    • Yards Per Reception: 1st Half: 9.6 | 2nd Half: 10.2
    • Completion Percentage: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 58.8%
    • Penalties: 1st Half: 2 | 2nd Half: 1
  • Defense:
    • Third Down % Allowed: 1st Half: 46.2% | 2nd Half: 50.0%
    • Red Zone TD % Allowed: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 66.7%
    • Yards Per Play Allowed: 1st Half: 6.2 | 2nd Half: 6.5
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt Allowed: 1st Half: 4.2 | 2nd Half: 4.8
    • Yards Per Reception Allowed: 1st Half: 13.1 | 2nd Half: 13.9
    • Completion Percentage Allowed: 1st Half: 68.2% | 2nd Half: 71.4%
    • Penalties Inflicted: 1st Half: 1 | 2nd Half: 1

Week 3: Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders

  • Offense:
    • Third Down %: 1st Half: 33.3% | 2nd Half: 37.5%
    • Red Zone TD %: 1st Half: 100% | 2nd Half: 66.7%
    • Yards Per Play: 1st Half: 5.1 | 2nd Half: 5.3
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt: 1st Half: 4.8 | 2nd Half: 4.6
    • Yards Per Reception: 1st Half: 10.5 | 2nd Half: 10.9
    • Completion Percentage: 1st Half: 57.1% | 2nd Half: 60.0%
    • Penalties: 1st Half: 5 | 2nd Half: 4
  • Defense:
    • Third Down % Allowed: 1st Half: 37.5% | 2nd Half: 40.0%
    • Red Zone TD % Allowed: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 50.0%
    • Yards Per Play Allowed: 1st Half: 5.0 | 2nd Half: 5.4
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt Allowed: 1st Half: 3.5 | 2nd Half: 3.8
    • Yards Per Reception Allowed: 1st Half: 11.5 | 2nd Half: 12.1
    • Completion Percentage Allowed: 1st Half: 61.1% | 2nd Half: 63.6%
    • Penalties Inflicted: 1st Half: 2 | 2nd Half: 3

Week 4: Washington Commanders 13 @ Indianapolis Colts 30

  • Offense:
    • Third Down %: 1st Half: 20.0% | 2nd Half: 12.5%
    • Red Zone TD %: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 0.0%
    • Yards Per Play: 1st Half: 4.4 | 2nd Half: 4.1
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt: 1st Half: 4.3 | 2nd Half: 4.0
    • Yards Per Reception: 1st Half: 9.8 | 2nd Half: 9.2
    • Completion Percentage: 1st Half: 53.3% | 2nd Half: 45.5%
    • Penalties: 1st Half: 6 | 2nd Half: 4
  • Defense:
    • Third Down % Allowed: 1st Half: 37.5% | 2nd Half: 42.9%
    • Red Zone TD % Allowed: 1st Half: 50.0% | 2nd Half: 75.0%
    • Yards Per Play Allowed: 1st Half: 5.3 | 2nd Half: 5.9
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt Allowed: 1st Half: 3.7 | 2nd Half: 4.5
    • Yards Per Reception Allowed: 1st Half: 11.9 | 2nd Half: 12.8
    • Completion Percentage Allowed: 1st Half: 58.8% | 2nd Half: 65.0%
    • Penalties Inflicted: 1st Half: 2 | 2nd Half: 2

Week 5: New York Giants 27 @ Washington Commanders 27 (OT)

  • Offense:
    • Third Down %: 1st Half: 42.9% | 2nd Half: 25.0%
    • Red Zone TD %: 1st Half: 66.7% | 2nd Half: 50.0%
    • Yards Per Play: 1st Half: 5.4 | 2nd Half: 5.1
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt: 1st Half: 5.0 | 2nd Half: 4.8
    • Yards Per Reception: 1st Half: 11.2 | 2nd Half: 10.6
    • Completion Percentage: 1st Half: 62.5% | 2nd Half: 57.9%
    • Penalties: 1st Half: 3 | 2nd Half: 4
  • Defense:
    • Third Down % Allowed: 1st Half: 40.0% | 2nd Half: 53.8%
    • Red Zone TD % Allowed: 1st Half: 33.3% | 2nd Half: 66.7%
    • Yards Per Play Allowed: 1st Half: 5.1 | 2nd Half: 5.4
    • Yards Per Rushing Attempt Allowed: 1st Half: 3.5 | 2nd Half: 3.9
    • Yards Per Reception Allowed: 1st Half: 11.6 | 2nd Half: 12.4
    • Completion Percentage Allowed: 1st Half: 60.0% | 2nd Half: 64.7%
    • Penalties Inflicted: 1st Half: 2 | 2nd Half: 2

What this data ultimately reveals is an in game schematic problem. It is one thing to look at an isolated third-down failure or a defensive lapse, but it is another entirely to trace how these exact numbers shift after halftime. The numbers do more than just summarize a tough opening month; they expose a troubling trend of in in game adjustments that may point directly toward the inexperience of first-year offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Both are young, relatively unproven coordinators, and their inexperience is rather obvious when you track how this team functions before and after the halftime.

The David Blough Experience: Scripted Success vs. Second-Half Inconsistencies

There is an undeniable trend with David Blough’s unit: they look functional and efficient when playing on a heavily scripted opening game plan, but they completely lose their identity when opposing defenses adjust. It appears that when teams present Blough with a defensive adjustment during the game, the counter-punches aren’t coming or just not affective.

  • The Passing Metrics Decline: In Week 1 against the Eagles and Week 2 against the Cowboys, Washington’s completion percentages hovered around a dismal 50.0% to 52.0% in the first half. While the completion rates technically ticked up in the second half of those games, defenses began squeezing them later in the month.
  • The Week 4 Collapse (vs. Colts): The offense completely tanked in the second half, watching its completion rate drop from an already mediocre 53.3% down to a catastrophic 45.5%. Third-down conversions simultaneously plummeted to a microscopic 12.5%.
  • The Week 5 Identity Crisis (vs. Giants): Blough had his unit humming early, hitting 62.5% of his passes and converting 42.9% on third down. In the second half, the completion rate fell to 57.9%, and third downs fell off a cliff to 25.0%.
  • The Efficiency Disconnect: The team is currently ranked 30th in the NFL on third downs (33.3%). You can stay afloat with a 4th-ranked red-zone efficiency (65.2% TD rate) for a little while, but if your young coordinator can’t sustain drives past the second quarter, your defense is going to get gassed.
  • The Penalty Problem: The final indicator of a struggling unit is discipline. Washington is averaging 7.6 penalties per game, ranking them 27th in the NFL.

Of course the players must execute the game plan and clean up these terrible pre-snap mistakes but the play calling has not been consistent nor good enough. The in game and half time adjustments have just not worked out and while the run-pass-ration has been fairly even, the 4.7 yards per carry average is inflated by the quarterbacks. When an anemic run game is coupled with an average passing game, you need a play caller that can effectively execute a game plan that is far more cohesive than what we have seen from Blough.

Daronte Jones and the Sinking Defensive Ship

If Blough’s issue is an inability to adjust, Daronte Jones’ issue is that his unit completely breaks down under pressure. Washington’s defense is currently ranked 30th in yards per play allowed, at 5.5, and 30th in yards per reception allowed, at 12.3. They are giving up massive, explosive plays, and it gets worse later in the game.

Opposing teams seem to be out coaching Jones in the third and fourth quarters. Whether it’s fatigue or predictable play-calling, Washington’s defense consistently gives up more yards per play, fails to get off the field on third down, and bleeds touchdowns in the red zone during the second half of games.

The second-half splits under Jones paint a terrifying picture:

  • Week 2 vs. Dallas: Allowed yards per play jumped from 6.2 to 6.5, and the third-down defense collapsed to 50.0%.
  • Week 3 vs. Seattle: Allowed yards per play climbed from 5.0 to 5.4. The timing of infractions here was killer, as the defense committed 4 penalties in the second half to directly stall any momentum.
  • Week 4 vs. Indy: Allowed yards per play rose from 5.3 to 5.9, while the red-zone defense melted, allowing touchdowns on 75.0% of trips.
  • Week 5 vs. NYG: Third-down defense imploded from a solid 40.0% in the first half to a brutal 53.8% in the second half. Even worse, the red-zone touchdown efficiency allowed doubled from 33.3% to 66.7%.

The defensive roster has a bright spot, which is the front seven holding opponents to 3.9 yards per carry on the ground, which ranks 8th in the NFL. While their pressure rate on the quarterback ranks 23rd at 20.53%, they are ranked 10th in the NFL averaging 1.8 sacks per game and 13th averaging 6 quarterback hits per game.

The Bottom Line

Right now, it seems veteran coordinators across the league are letting Blough and Jones play their preferred style in the first half and making adjustments at halftime thus they have been completely out coached in the second half. Until these two young coordinators learn how to adapt on the fly, the Commanders are going to keep letting winnable games slip right through their fingers. The inexperience reared it’s ugly head on the last 2 plays of overtime as Blough clearly did not prepare the offense accordingly, while Jayden Daniels does not escape blame too. This season just seems to be unraveling quick which begs the question how much longer does Dan Quinn have coaching this team?

 

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