NFL Rumors: Commanders disagreed with critics of Jayden Daniels' OL before 3-1 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Although the Washington Commanders' offensive line was coming off a season in which they allowed 65 sacks, the highest in the league, team members were much more optimistic about the unit's prospects for the 2024-25 season and were vindicated for their belief rewarded with four sacks games.

ESPN's John Keim spoke with multiple team sources who cited numerous factors in the sack total – from former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy's emphasis on passing to quarterback Sam Howell's tendency to keep the ball to the overall talent level of the group.

Washington made numerous offseason changes to the offense, including the addition of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, veteran center Tyler Biadasz, left guard Nick Allegretti and left tackle Brandon Coleman. As a result, the Commanders enter Week 5 with the 11th-fewest sacks allowed in the NFL.

“We know they (the offense) weren't super hyped at the beginning of the season,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury told reporters. “But they really pride themselves on their approach as a unit, their physicality, their finishing and their toughness, and their communication is great.”

With a red-hot quarterback in Daniels, who, according to Keim, was on fourth down in the shortest time at 2.52 seconds before passing, the offense had more time and opportunity to demonstrate its dominance over the league's best defenses, which had previously also third place was a sack in 5.38 seconds.

At the start of week five, the 3-1 Commanders face the struggling Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson.