Marcus Mariota, Zach Ertz Explain Missed Connections in Commanders vs. Dolphins

They are among the most experienced players on the team, but Marcus Mariota and Zach Ertz missed each other in two critical moments to condemn the Washington Commanders to a 16-13 loss in overtime to the Miami Dolphins at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Week 11.

Ertz slipped on a failed fourth-down conversion at the goal-line, and the 35-year-old tight end appeared to blame the condition of the field. Mariota, by contrast, was much more matter of fact about the interception he threw when aiming for Ertz on the first play of the extra period.

Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones was able to snatch the pass, and the turnover soon positioned kicker Riley Patterson to split the uprights from 29 yards. His successful field goal confirmed a sixth-straight defeat for the Commanders, but Mariota was still willing to credit his opponent.

Speaking to reporters after the game, per Commanders.com, the backup quarterback explained, “they covered our first couple of options well, and I tried to get back side to Zach. A guy undercut it and made a player, unfortunately there. Give credit to him, he made a good play.”

While Mariota was gracious in defeat, Ertz wasn’t anywhere near as forgiving when it came to his assessment of the playing conditions in the Spanish capital.

Zach Ertz Left Fuming by Condition of the Field

It was appropriate Mariota was targeting Ertz on the critical INT after four quarters. The three-time Pro Bowl pass-catcher endured a day to forget that also included an ill-timed slip in the red zone earlier in the game.

The play on fourth down was what The Team 980’s Ben Standig dubbed, “the classic Ertz in-cut at the low red-zone… but he slipped on the cut. Throw wizzes past him on 4th down.”

When asked what went wrong, Ertz revealed, “I’m going to walk in if I don’t slip like that..a play I’ve ran probably 10,000 times in my career and never slipped like that. The footing was a little challenging at times,” per ESPN’s John Keim.

The Super Bowl champion with the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles stated the turf “was not ideal. …a lot of slippage. But you can’t blame it on the field.”

Ettz’s attempt to not blame the field by blaming the field rings hollow. While the footing clearly wasn’t perfect, this was ultimately a bad day at the office for a decorated veteran whose standards are usually higher.

The missed opportunities for Ertz summed up the performance of the Commanders’ offense as a whole. Letting too many plays get away was on Mariota’s mind more than the field.

Marcus Mariota Rues Commanders Mistakes

Mariota wasn’t interested in blaming the field for Washington’s woes in the red zone. He told reporters, “Sometimes that’s the way the ball bounces. We have to be better in that zone. I think this offense can score a lot of points, but if we’re not converting our red-zone opportunities, it’s tough.”

Failing to convert down close to the end zone undermined how well the Commanders moved the ball between 20s. They rushed for 172 yards, while Mariota threw for 213 and a touchdown, per ESPN.

Those numbers were enough to win the game, but too many drives were wasted by failing to move the chains and missing field goals. Mariota was part of the problem, being stopped on third-and-goal on a designed QB run in the opening quarter.

He conceded the Dolphins “had a spy. I tried to check to a different play. I tried to scramble to my left and the spy was there. In that moment, I probably could’ve dirted it and gave us better field position for the field goal.”

Settling for the field goal was the smart play, but the outcome would’ve been far from certain since Pro Bowler Matt Gay missed two kicks. His second errant attempt, a 56-yarder late would have won the game, but the miss was just part of an error-strewn performance for the Commanders, who enter the bye needing to get healthy and more efficient to salvage their season.

Bears HC Ben Johnson’s trickery helps DJ Moore pull off feat not seen since 1960

Chicago, IL – November 3, 2025

When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson

as their new head coach, fans expected offensive creativity — and in Week 9, they finally got it. In a wild

47–42 shootout win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson unleashed his playbook, and

DJ Moore made franchise history in the process.

While most eyes were on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams

, Moore stole the spotlight. The veteran receiver caught four passes for 72 yards

, threw a touchdown pass, and ran in another — becoming the first Bears wide receiver since at least 1960 to record both a passing and rushing touchdown in a single game, per

The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain.

The highlight came on a trick play called “Hot Potato”, which Williams later revealed postgame. After a flurry of lateral pitches, Moore found his quarterback wide open in the end zone for a

two-yard touchdown pass, igniting the Bears’ sideline and quieting the Bengals’ early momentum after their kickoff return score.

Moore’s rushing touchdown, however, came with drama. On a 17-yard sweep, he appeared to step out of bounds at the one-yard line, prompting

Zac Taylor and the Bengals to challenge, arguing the ball had fumbled out of the end zone. Upon review, officials ruled Moore broke the plane before losing possession — sealing his second score of the game.

The play gave Chicago a 41–27 lead, but the Bears still needed every second to secure the win. With running backs D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson both sidelined, Johnson’s scheme leaned heavily on Moore’s versatility, turning him into a do-it-all offensive weapon.

Moving forward, expect the Bears to keep DJ Moore deeply involved in Ben Johnson’s evolving system. As Williams continues to grow under center, Chicago’s offense is clearly finding its identity — one where Moore isn’t just catching passes, but rewriting team history.

When the Bears face the New York Giants next week, don’t be surprised if Johnson dips into his playbook once again — and DJ Moore is right in the middle of the magic.

Broncos Star Skips Victory Celebration to Check on Injured Texans QB After 18–15 Win

The Denver Broncos edged out the Houston Texans 18–15, but the real story came from a moment of humanity following C.J. Stroud’s concussion early in the second quarter.

After a brutal yet legal collision, Texans QB C.J. Stroud remained down for several seconds before being escorted to the locker room for a Comprehensive Concussion Assessment. The stadium fell completely silent.

While his teammates were celebrating the victory in the locker room

, Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine quietly walked away from the noise. Instead of joining the postgame cheers, he made his way toward the

Texans’ medical area, asking to check on Stroud’s condition.

Witnesses said Abrams-Draine waited outside until a staff member confirmed he could enter briefly. It wasn’t about guilt or publicity — it was an act of genuine sportsmanship and concern

When informed of the gesture, Stroud was clearly moved. “I was surprised, honestly,” he said. “He didn’t have to do that. But it shows the kind of man he is. I don’t blame him — that’s football.”

The Texans quarterback went on to praise Abrams-Draine’s humility. “We’re all out here trying to do our best for our teams,” Stroud added. “But moments like this remind you that respect means more than any win or loss.”

After confirming Stroud was okay, Abrams-Draine returned quietly to his team’s locker room — no cameras, no fanfare — and joined the celebration with a calm, reflective smile.

In a league often defined by collisions and chaos,

this small act of empathy stood out as the night’s truest victory.

Tiền vệ người Texas tiếp tục khen ngợi sự khiêm tốn của Abrams-Draine.