For a minute, it looked like the Washington Commanders were about to pull off an improbable comeback and hand the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the 2026 season. Unfortunately for Washington, Jayden Daniels’ pass to Treylob Burks with 1:54 remaining was broken up in the end zone, giving the 49ers the ball back.
However, the Commanders would get one more shot. Daniels quickly got the ball across midfield before things fell apart. Washington couldn’t keep San Francisco’s pass rushers away from Daniels, and he threw it away on second down, earning an intentional grounding penalty. With one play remaining, three 49ers converged on Daniels, and he couldn’t get off a pass attempt; the 49ers held on for the 23-17 win.
It was a tale of two halves for the Commanders. Washington managed only 90 yards and two first downs in the first half, while the 49ers had 303 yards and 17 first downs. In the second half, the Commanders had 224 yards, while the Niners managed only 72.
The first half was full of Washington mistakes, from Daniels throwing the ball away on fourth down to head coach Dan Quinn appearing not to know what down it was, Terry McLaurin's injury, and more back-breaking penalties. Here’s how X — formerly Twitter — reacted to the Commanders’ loss.
That game was a lot.
— Kevin Sheehan (@kevinsheehanDC) October 20, 2026
Thoughts on today’s loss @ San Fransisco:
— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) October 20, 2026
• It’s a very defeated coach and coaching staff. You could see it on the face of Quinn all night.
• McLaurin injury is devastating. If as bad as assumed, it could very well be the last time we see him play in B&G.
• Some more…
Good comeback. Tough loss. Showed a lot in the second half. No moral victories. Need real ones. However if Jayden Daniels keeps playing like this they have a shot in this division.
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 20, 2026
Setting your QB up for failure.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) October 20, 2026
I can’t stand it. pic.twitter.com/B68xjBDCA1
Do yall realize that Blough did not call a single play where the WR ran an out and got out of bounds on that last drive with no timeouts.spiking the ball takes time and kills downs.
— Commanders Declassified Podcast (@DeclassifiedWft) October 20, 2026
The best quarterback in the NFC East is … Jayden Daniels.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 20, 2026
Kliff in 2 minute offense with no timeouts:
— Commanders Declassified Podcast (@DeclassifiedWft) October 20, 2026
- lots of OT breaking routes to catch and get out of bounds to stop the clock.
Blough: 4 vert all go
My biggest question and I don’t know the answer - who is this team? Awful first half strong second half. I just don’t know
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 20, 2026
Time is a flat circle.
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) October 20, 2026
"Oh that was fourth down"
- Dan Quinn
"We can be eliminated (from the playoffs)?"
- Ron Rivera pic.twitter.com/EpFgGyCR86
Post game press conference: it’s hard to win games when your coach has no brain cells pic.twitter.com/w3bCJ7TZfy
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) October 20, 2026
In fairness - all NFC East teams should be given 5 downs on offense. https://t.co/IYXqsW6n5y
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) October 20, 2026
Chris Paul has single-handedly dismantled our season.
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) October 20, 2026
On so many occasions.
What are you doing? We have to win despite the Zebras. Don’t let the rope go.
— Rick Doc Walker (@RickDocWalker) October 20, 2026
Kliff would NEVER
— Rio Robinson (@Rio_Robinson91) October 20, 2026
Oline sucks. Ball game
— Chick Hernandez (@MrChickSports) October 20, 2026
At least they got the play off? 🥶
— cynthia frelund (@cfrelund) October 20, 2026
Fred Warner AGAIN leading with the helmet. No penalty… pic.twitter.com/D9v1HcHl35
— Tiller56 (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) October 20, 2026
Disaster play design. Just unfathomably bad. pic.twitter.com/02MmkShVW7
— Brendan Darr (@BrendanDarr) October 20, 2026
Another confusing route tree by David Blough at the end of the game. This play never had a chance.
— Carolina Commander (@SC_Commanderr) October 20, 2026
All #Commanders receivers running downfield and not working the middle of the field.
There would have been plenty of time to clock it after.#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/gJPTqtLNx0
The Chris Paul sabotage saga:
— Commanders Lead (@CommandersLead) October 20, 2026
- Steps on Jayden causing him to trip and dislocate his elbow
- Steps on Jayden again vs the Giants messing up the last play in OT
- Gets a ridiculous facemask call negating the most important TD of the season
Get him away from my QB. pic.twitter.com/SOkappoThp
Fire Dan Quinn pic.twitter.com/C1QsdTE3hM
— Tom Manatos (@TomManatos) October 20, 2026
Rushed 3 against 6 and all three got home. pic.twitter.com/d04bN65lTj
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) October 20, 2026
They fired Kliff Kingsbury in an attempt to diversify the offense, and they clearly operate at their best when doing the same up tempo shit he was doing
— Coach Breeze (@CoachBreeze_) October 20, 2026
The comeback was nice, but the reality is that Washington over its last 18 regular-season games now is 3-14-1 with a point differential of -168.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) October 20, 2026
This team is so far from what it should be in Season No. 3 of the Adam Peters/Dan Quinn regime.
Unacceptable and inexcusable.
Starting to feel dirty that AP will get another coaching search. He’s a huge reason for the impending search.
— Marshall (@MarshW_7) October 20, 2026
It’s over.
— Steak/Sauna/Parlay/Draft King (@EBJunkies) October 20, 2026
Can’t manage the game at all. We’re not competitive.
He’s getting fired.
Fanbase is gonna demand it.
What a terrible situation to be in.
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) October 20, 2026
Dan Quinn is a lame duck coach.
Neither David Blough or Daronte Jones have shown evidence to invest in as a Head Coach.
What's the point of putting Larry Izzo or Anthony Lynn as interim?
What a mess.
Jayden Daniels when kept clean in the second half: 17-19, 166 yards, +0.72 EPA/play, 68.4% success rate
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) October 20, 2026
Thought he played very well in the second half given the constant pressure and no Terry McLaurin
Data: @SumerSports
3 helmet to helmet calls MISSED! @NFLOfficiatinghttps://t.co/6vXz2ii2nP
— Lord Commander 999 (@HailMaryland) October 20, 2026
Lmaooo this nigga Odafe oweh wanna try extra hard in training camp causing Laremy Tunsil to be out for the season just for him to disappear and cash checks in the actual games 😭😭😭😭😭 unreal
— Prezz ₩ (@Prezz4k) October 20, 2026
I don’t blame Jayden at all for those final two plays. If you let a 3 man or 4 man rush get home when you have 6 protectors I can’t blame the QB lol
— Damien Bartonek (@tvBartonek) October 20, 2026
Was Jayden Daniels’ 2nd career 300-yard passing performance.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) October 20, 2026
The only other time he eclipsed 300 through the air was in the Hail Mary game when the last heave got him across the mark. I loved seeing him be content to stay in the pocket and make throws tonight.
Never been more excited about Wizards season…
— ᑎIᑕK ᗩᔕᕼOOᕼ 🤧 (@NickAshooh) October 20, 2026
I see people giving Jayden Daniels a hard time for the intentional grounding with 16 seconds left.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) October 20, 2026
I don't think he did anything wrong. You cannot take a sack there. The issue was he had no underneath options with White having to stay in to block. Too many vertical routes IMO.
Chris Paul cost them a clean touchdown. Sigh. #RaiseHail
— Felix Trammell (@FelixDTrammell) October 20, 2026
Prayers up for Scary Terry McLaurin
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 20, 2026
Fred Warner has gotten away with multiple illegal hits to the head or receivers in the process of making the catch, as Troy Aikman said on the broadcast. https://t.co/pLCt04QIpd
— Mark Maske (@MarkMaske) October 20, 2026
Thanks for all you tried to do Terry McLaurin over the years.
— Deuce_Redzone (@redzoneinthelab) October 20, 2026
You'll always be appreciated.
Offensive line is doesn't couldn't even hold up in crucial moment vs a 3 man rush 😂😂😂😂
— ARP Reez (@Reez_Delaghetto) October 20, 2026
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Social media reacts to Commanders' Week 6 loss to 49ers