Jayden Daniels has 4 TDs as the Commanders end their skid at 3 by beating the Titans 42-19

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels wanted no part of sitting around for half of December dwelling on a losing streak.

“I didn’t want to go into the bye week with an ‘L,’" he said.

Daniels made sure of it, throwing two of his three touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and scoring one rushing to lead the Washington Commanders to a 42-19 rout of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. They got their groove back, their skid ended at three and it was all smiles following their first victory in nearly a month.

“It’s always great to win,” Daniels said. "Obviously, winning always makes everything better."

Daniels completed 25 of 30 passes for 206 yards and the TD passes to McLaurin and Zach Ertz, offsetting his interception and bolstering his status as favorite for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Brian Robinson Jr. returned from a sprained ankle to run for 103 yards and a TD, and the defense and special teams each forced a fumble in a game the Commanders (8-5) had well in hand before halftime.

“That was one of the best displays of complementary football we’ve played in a little while, and we still didn’t play our cleanest,” said McLaurin, who had eight catches for 73 yards and was serenated with “Terry! Terry!" chants throughout the afternoon. “For us to do that against a really solid team just shows us what we can do if we execute at a high level and play off of one another.”

The bounce back from defeats to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas keeps Washington solidly in a playoff spot at its long-awaited bye week. It was made possible by the offense returning to elite, early season form following a series of questions about Daniels and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that mounted during the skid.

“We trust Kliff and the offensive staff to put us in the best situation to be successful,” McLaurin said. “But it’s on us to be able to execute the plan and I feel like we did a better job of that than we had the past few weeks.”

The Commanders went nine of 14 on third down and went up 28-0 just over 19 minutes into the game — the fastest lead by that margin since Baltimore did it in 16:11 against Miami in 2019. Washington scored 21 points in the first quarter for the first time since 2015.

Daniels was a big part of that, extending plays with his legs and finishing with 34 yards on the ground and his sixth TD run of the season. Coach Dan Quinn said Daniels "was able to fully express himself today (with) runs, keeping, creating on the move.”

Tennessee (3-9) didn't score until Will Levis' 27-yard TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine late in the second quarter, and the two connected on another with seven minutes remaining in the fourth.

The Titans for much of the first half had more yards in penalties than on offense and were unable to climb out of a deep hole. The loss puts to rest any talk of a long-shot playoff bid created by their upset victory at Houston last week.

“Keep going — it's all we can do,” said Levis, who was 18 of 37 and got sacked twice. “We just keep finding different ways to shoot ourselves in the foot.”

Frankie Luvu tormented Levis early and often, hitting him on one third down play and tipping a pass on another. His sack of Levis in the second quarter gave him eight this season, setting a career high.

Luvu has perhaps been first-year general manager Adam Peters' best free agent signing. The other candidate for that, fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner, joined London Fletcher as the only players in NFL history to make 100-plus tackles in 13 consecutive seasons.

Titans: CB Roger McCreary injured a shoulder late in the third quarter while tackling Robinson.

Commanders: WR Noah Brown left with a rib injury. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a fourth consecutive game and still hasn’t played since Washington acquired him at the trade deadline.

Titans: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit New Orleans on Dec. 15 coming out of their bye week.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) celebrates his touchdown with center Tyler Biadasz (63) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan and Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn meet on the field after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Commanders won 42-19. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, left, shakes hands with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, right, after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Commanders won 42-19. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) on a two-point conversion play during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates the team's 42-19 win against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans cornerback Daryl Worley (35) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans defenders during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham (55) is tackled after catching a tipped pass by Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn (11), defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton (95) and linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) runs the ball to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) walks to the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz, left, celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) catches a pass for a touchdown over Tennessee Titans cornerback Daryl Worley (35) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is tackled by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (93) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) runs for a touchdown past Tennessee Titans cornerback Daryl Worley, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) catches a pass in the end zone for touchdown past Tennessee Titans cornerback Daryl Worley (35) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Zach Charbonnet ran for a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown with 5:31 remaining, Leonard Williams returned an interception 92 yards for a momentum-turning score and the Seattle Seahawks held on to beat the New York Jets 26-21 on a chilly, windy Sunday for their third straight victory.

Geno Smith threw a touchdown pass to AJ Barner for the Seahawks (7-5), who were sloppy early but took over sole possession of first place in the NFC West with Arizona losing to Minnesota.

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets (3-9) led most of the way and appeared energized early in their first game coming out of their bye-week break. But they were held scoreless in the second half.

Charbonnet’s score came on a drive helped by four penalties on the Jets, who finished with 12 of them.

All that came after a wacky first half that featured a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by New York’s Kene Nwangwu, Williams’ interception return and three fumbled kickoffs by the Seahawks, with two recovered by the Jets.

VIKINGS 23, CARDINALS 22

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the second half went to Aaron Jones for Minnesota’s first lead with 1:13 left, and the Vikings rallied from 13 points down to beat the Cardinals for their fifth straight victory.

Darnold went 21 for 31 for 235 yards while being sacked five times by the blitz-heavy Cardinals, who kept the Vikings (10-2) out of the end zone until Darnold hit Johnny Mundt with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.

Kyler Murray threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter to spoil what had been a stellar performance by the Cardinals (6-6), who fell into second place in the NFC West behind Seattle.

Jonathan Greenard poked the ball out of Murray’s hand on second down for Minnesota’s first sack of the game with 48 seconds to go, and Greenard chased down Murray on the next play for a 3-yard gain in bounds to force Arizona to use its second timeout.

The Vikings then swarmed Murray in the pocket on fourth down, forcing a desperation heave that Shaquill Griffin picked off. Earlier, Murray’s risky fling on third down under pressure was intercepted by Byron Murphy at the Minnesota 32, setting up the Vikings for a third field goal by Parker Romo.

Justin Jefferson had seven receptions for 99 yards for the Vikings, including an underneath catch on fourth-and-6 from the Arizona 34 that kept the winning drive alive.

STEELERS 44, BENGALS 38

CINCINNATI (AP) — Russell Wilson threw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns, and Pittsburgh outlasted Joe Burrow and Cincinnati.

Wilson logged the second-most passing yards and the third 400-yard game of his career. He threw for 452 yards for Seattle against Houston on Oct. 29, 2017.

Wilson finished 29 for 38 as the Steelers (9-3) rebounded from losing to the Browns 24-19 in a Nov. 21 game in the snow in Cleveland. He also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Bengals (4-8) lost for the fourth time in five games. They also dropped to 1-5 at home, increasing the likelihood that they will miss the playoffs for the second straight year.

Najee Harris had a 10-yard touchdown run and Chris Boswell kicked two field goals to help Pittsburgh to a 27-21 halftime lead. It was the highest scoring first half in the 110 meetings between the longtime rivals. Wilson had 257 yards passing for his best total in a first half in his career.

Harris finished with 75 yards rushing and 54 yards receiving. George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth caught TD passes for the Steelers.

CHARGERS 17, FALCONS 13

ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie Tarheeb Still returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown, his second pick of the game and one of four thrown by Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins as the Chargers handed the first-place Falcons their third straight loss.

In a game that neither team seemed eager to win, the Chargers (8-4) overcame five sacks, a fumble deep in their own territory, a fake punt that didn’t work and a largely listless offense.

The 36-year-old Cousins looked like a rookie for the Falcons (6-6) on a fourth-and-5 pass at the Los Angeles 40 late in the third quarter.

Still read the play all the way, stepping in front of Darnell Mooney and sprinting untouched down the sideline in front of the Falcons bench for the touchdown that put the Chargers ahead to stay.

COLTS 25, PATRIOTS 24

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.(AP) — Anthony Richardson threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce with 12 seconds left and ran for the go-ahead 2-point conversion, and Indianapolis beat New England when the Patriots’ Joey Slye missed a 68-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

Richardson finished 12 of 24 for 109 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions to help the Colts (6-7) keep their playoff hopes alive. Three of Indianapolis’ final four opponents have losing records.

The Patriots (3-10) have lost four of five. Drake Maye finished 24 of 30 for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Indianapolis capitalized on a pass-interference penalty to get into the red zone with just over a minute left. Then, facing fourth-and-goal on the 3, Richardson rolled out and hit Pierce to get Indy within a point.

After the successful conversion, Maye connected with tight end Hunter Henry on two passes for 20 yards to advance the ball to midfield. The Patriots lined up from there for what would have been an NFL record-long field goal. Slye’s kick was on line but fell short of the crossbar.

TEXANS 23, JAGUARS 20

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Joe Mixon ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, Nico Collins caught eight passes for 119 yards and Houston beat Jacksonville after knocking quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of the game with a concussion.

The AFC South-leading Texans (8-5) won for just the second time in five weeks and staggered into their bye week with a little momentum.

Mixon became the third player in NFL history with at least 100 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown in six road games in the same season. He joined Tiki Barber of the New York Giants (2004) and Derrick Henry of Tennessee (2020) in accomplishing the feat. Mixon is the first to reach the marks in his first six road games of a season.

He carried 20 times, none bigger than his 8-yard gain on third-and-5 in the waning minutes that moved the chains and sealed the victory.

C.J. Stroud completed 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards, with a 22-yard TD pass to Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter that essentially iced the game. It was Houston’s 12th win in its past 14 meetings with the Jaguars (2-10) and sixth in a row in Jacksonville.

COMMANDERS 42, TITANS 19

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels threw two of his three touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and also scored one rushing, and Washington got their groove back by beating Tennessee to end their losing streak at three.

Daniels completed 25 of 30 passes for 206 yards and the TD passes to McLaurin and Zach Ertz, offsetting his interception and bolstering his status as favorite for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Brian Robinson Jr. returned from a sprained ankle to run for 103 yards and a TD, and the defense and special teams each forced a fumble in a game the Commanders (8-5) had well in hand before halftime.

The bounce back from defeats to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas keeps Washington solidly in a playoff spot at its long-awaited bye week. It was made possible by the offense returning to elite, early season form following a series of questions about Daniels and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury that mounted during the skid.

The Commanders went nine of 14 on third down and went up 28-0 just over 19 minutes into the game — the fastest lead by that margin since Baltimore did it in 16:11 against Miami in 2019. Washington scored 21 points in the first quarter for the first time since 2015.

Tennessee (3-9) didn’t score until Will Levis’ 27-yard TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine late in the second quarter, and the two connected on another with seven minutes remaining in the fourth.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts after a touchdown by running back Zach Charbonnet during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)