The Commanders’ season continues to spiral downward as they face their fifth consecutive loss. The team just fell 44-22 to the Lions at Northwest Stadium in Week 10, but the worst was yet to come. The latest NFL move recently threw safety Quan Martin under the bus. According to insider Ben Standig, Martin isn’t taking it lightly and has finally broken his silence on the matter.

“I’m not sure why I was flagged…I was pulled to the ground, kicked in the n***, and it was a flag on me. You could tell I was upset from being kicked in the n***, intentionally, right in front of the refs.”

Martin’s remarks hint at his frustration and sense of injustice, especially when he thinks he was the opponent who was targeted physically. The incident reportedly occurred after the game when the safety started arguing with a player on the field. Next, the referee pulled Martin up for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a penalty. 

This situation unfolds at a time when Washington is already under scrutiny for on-field discipline following its recent actions. But guess what? Quan Martin wasn’t alone in facing the NFL’s wrath. DT Daron Payne, the team’s $90M asset, also faced the music for violating the rulebook. The management grilled Payne for one game for punching WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. It has cost him a one-game suspension and ejection in the second quarter of the Lions’ game. 

Payne reportedly hit the receiver after Detroit’s RB Jahmyr Gibbs scored a 13-yard touchdown, pushing Detroit’s lead to 22-3 after an extra point. For Washington, the 13th overall pick is one of the franchise’s most valuable assets. This is reflected in his $90 million four-year contract, which runs through 2026. It includes a $28 million signing bonus and over $59 million in guaranteed money. So, the team clearly can’t afford to lose him, not when their defense is struggling.

Washington’s defense hits a new low

On the play front, Daron’s absence is a major blow to Washington’s already-struggling defense. The team is currently ranked 28th on defense in the league following Week 10, per PFF. With the latest brutal loss against Detroit, the team’s defense has worsened. 

In the matchup, the Lions’ high-powered offense unsurprisingly moved the ball easily during the game. However, Washington’s defense underperformed big time, collapsing completely and allowing the opponent to win by 22 points. The unit’s performance lacked effort, communication, and any proper fight.

To make matters worse, it was the team’s fourth straight defeat by 21 or more points. According to PFT Commenter, no other NFL team has allowed this to happen in over two decades, not since the 2002 Arizona Cardinals’ historically poor defense. Currently, the Commanders are reeling from a five-game losing streak, with blowout losses to the Cowboys, Chiefs, Seahawks, and now the Lions.

Week after week, the team is losing its confidence and is showing no signs of improvement or urgency to do better. Daron Payne’s move against St. Brown shows how frustrated everyone is on the team. In the post-game press conference, head coach Dan Quinn addressed the on-field aggression. 

“It wasn’t spilling into the locker room, but I get the frustration,” Quinn said. “But we’ve gotta find a way to channel our frustration better or different than that.”

The team must reassess its game plan and values before facing the red-hot Miami Dolphins. Lack of discipline and poor defense could cost them against a team that just recorded a big 30-13 win over the Bills.