Hail Mary TD masks the Commanders' offensive woes on third down and in the red zone

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Even after throwing a Hail Mary touchdown pass that delivered the Washington Commanders an improbable victory, Jayden Daniels let his mind drift to why that should not have been necessary.

“I’m happy that we won, but at the end of the day I know there’s a lot that we left out there, a lot that we could continue to get better from," said Daniels, who played through a rib injury. "We’ve got to clean some stuff up on the offensive side. We’ve got to clean up some stuff — penalties, communication. We won the game, so it’s always better on a win.”

The win on the frantic finish of Daniels' 52-yard TD pass to Noah Brown with zeroes on the clock got the Commanders to 6-2. Moving forward, sputtering in the red zone and faltering on third down are significant problems the offense needs to solve before they threaten to derail what's looking like a playoff-bound season.

"Obviously you don’t want to struggle in the red zone like we did, and you want to have touchdowns versus field goals," center Tyler Biadasz said. “You want to work on the correctable things that you got to work on but just appreciate the moment.”

Washington went 0 for 3 in the red zone and 5 for 15 on third down and settled for four field goals from Austin Seibert. Coach Dan Quinn called it a frustrating game, and it's not the first time his team experienced some of those issues.

It also happened when beating the New York Giants in Week 2, when all the offense was provided by Seibert's franchise-record seven field goals. That might have been a loss, too, if not for the Giants losing kicker Graham Gano to injury on the opening kickoff.

Fittingly, the Commanders visit the Giants on Sunday with the chance to get things right. Washington opened as a 3 1/2-point road favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook.

“We got a lot of things, obviously, to clean up moving forward,” receiver Terry McLaurin said. “Next week's going to be a tough game. It's a division game, but we'll be up for the challenge.”

The defense kept Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears off the scoreboard until late in the third quarter, forced a turnover just outside its own goal line and in allowing 15 points did its job.

“Defense is the reason why we won the game, just getting the stops and giving us the ball back,” Daniels said.

Dating to a rout of Carolina, Washington held its opponent scoreless in the first half in back-to-back games for the first time since 1997. The revamped unit with a half-dozen new starters now has the 10th-best scoring defense and 14th overall in the NFL after being ranked 29th of 32 teams in each of those categories three games into the season.

Williams was under constant pressure, got sacked twice and completed just 10 of 24 passes.

“We knew to keep it a phone booth for him, make him scramble around," linebacker Frankie Luvu said. “Make him get out the pocket and throw it out, so we kind of got to our game plan and executed what we can.”

Ill-timed penalties continue to be an issue, including an ineligible man downfield call that wiped out what would have been a 32-yard TD pass from Daniels to Olamide Zaccheaus in the third quarter.

It's not the quantity of penalties — just five for 30 yards — but when they are happening that is concerning. Quinn has said he does not mind some that stem from aggression, but he and his staff are trying to cut down on flags for mental mistakes.

General manager Adam Peters' roster overhaul already looked like a smashing success. Then consider he signed Brown after final cuts around the league, brought in Seibert off the New York Jets practice squad between Weeks 1 and 2 and added Jalyn Holmes earlier this month after fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Holmes had one of the sacks of Williams.

The offensive line has been a surprising revelation, but Daniels took too many hits after letting go of the ball — especially for a rookie dealing with sore ribs.

“Obviously you want to minimize those hits on him, but he just continues to prove how tough he is,” running back Brian Robinson said.

The left tackle situation could become an issue if rookie Brandon Coleman is not ready to return from a concussion. Cornelius Lucas departed the Bears game with an ankle injury, pressing Trent Scott into duty protecting Daniels' blind side.

12.79 — Seconds Daniels scrambled before throwing the Hail Mary pass from the Washington 35-yard line. It's the franchise's first time winning a game with a touchdown on the final play in regulation since at least the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Don't underestimate the Giants, particularly given Daniel Jones' career success in this NFC East matchup, with 12 TDs and just three interceptions. It would be easy to do, too, with games against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia looming within a five-day span from Nov. 10-14.

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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and tight end John Bates (87) celebrate after the Commanders beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn argues a call in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (12) argues unsuccessfully after he caught a pass but was ruled out of bounds in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) kicks a 28-yard field goal against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) is congratulated after kicking a 28-yard field goal against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) winces in pain after a play in the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Manchester United finally ran out of patience and fired manager Erik ten Hag on Monday after a troubled start to the season which has left the 20-time English champions languishing in the Premier League amid a period of major upheaval at the club.

The Dutch coach won two domestic cups in his 2 1/2 years in charge but has paid the price for leading United to its worst start to a season, with the team in 14th place and having lost four of its opening nine league games.

Heavy home losses to fierce rival Liverpool and Tottenham left Ten Hag under severe pressure and seemingly changed the mood among United fans who previously were prepared to give him more time. A 2-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday proved to be his last game in charge.

United has won just one of its last eight games in all competitions.

“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” United said, adding that Ruud van Nistelrooy, one of Ten Hag’s assistants and a former striker at the club, would be taking over as interim head coach while a permanent head coach is recruited.

“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”

Among those linked with taking over at United are former England coach Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. Brentford manager Thomas Frank was asked about his interest in the vacancy and replied: “I’ve said many, many times, I’m very happy here. I think it’s one of the best clubs in the world. What happens in the future, who knows? But I’m very, very happy here."

Ten Hag joined from Dutch giant Ajax in 2022 and was tasked with the responsibility of bringing the good times back to a club that has been in decline since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Despite winning the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup this year, United was showing no sign of improving on its worst league campaign in 34 years, having finished in eighth place last season.

Already 12 points behind first-place Manchester City in the Premier League, United — which never had a distinguishable style of play under Ten Hag and often conceded late goals — appears to have little hope of challenging for the title and is in danger of missing out on qualification for the lucrative Champions League once again.

Ten Hag only held on to his job following an unexpected victory over fierce rival Man City in the FA Cup final in May and an extensive end-of-year review by United. He was then handed a one-year extension to his contract to 2026.

However, the club’s new soccer leadership — fronted by new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe — was unimpressed with the pace of change and the recent results under Ten Hag, who has overseen the spending of about 615 million pounds ($800 million) on new players since his arrival. In the Premier League, only Chelsea has spent more in that time.

Ratcliffe, the British billionaire, has taken over control of United’s soccer operations, with a new CEO, sporting director and technical director all installed in recent months. They now have to appoint a sixth permanent manager since Ferguson’s departure, following David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag.

"I don't think anybody will be truly shocked after what happened yesterday," former United defender Gary Neville said of the latest loss to West Ham.

“The fact they are in 14th is just unacceptable. You can't be 14th after nine games with the level of spending that has occurred, without being under significant pressure.”

Bruno Fernandes, United's current captain, posted on Instagram his best wishes to Ten Hag.

“Thanks for everything boss!” Fernandes wrote, alongside pictures of him and Ten Hag holding the FA Cup trophy. “I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.

Fernandes added: “Even knowing the last period hasn’t been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!”

United winger Alejandro Garnacho also took to Instagram, saying: “It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik.”

United's next game is at home to Leicester in the English League Cup on Wednesday.

FILE - Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the London Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag celebrates with Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana after winning the English FA Cup final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag watches the play during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag, left, celebrates after Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Brentford at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag shouts out from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

FILE - Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez lifts Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag while celebrating victory in the English FA Cup final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag sits on the bench during a Europa League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester United at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira, File)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes pose with the trophy after winning the English FA Cup final soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the London Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the London Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)