The Commanders, having a roster that featured 33 new players, including 17 new starters, entered Week 5 with a 1-game lead on the Eagles and Cowboys in the NFC East and a chance to cement that lead for at least another week. The Browns came in on a two-game losing streak and trying to find a way to right the ship.
Washington had the attention of the NFL world following a Week 3 Monday night shootout (which they won) against the Bengals. That game featured several big plays offensively, but a 27-yard touchdown throw to Terry McLaurin at the right sideline in the endzone for a back-breaking 12-point lead with 02:10 on the clock is still one of the highlight plays of the 2024 season.