When playing a bad team, the ideal approach is to put points on the board early and then allow them to implode. Put your foot on their neck until they roll over and show you their belly, if you will.
The Washington Commanders lost to the Dallas Cowboys a few weeks prior because they started slow, messed around for most of the first half and allowed a clearly limited inferior opponent to stick around long enough to become invested. Well. It almost happened again in New Orleans, when the Commanders once again played an injury ravaged opponent who should have represented an easy win.
Spencer Rattler and the Saints went marching on for two touchdowns and two field goals during the final 23 minutes of the game and were a failed two point conversion away from a shocking come-from-behind victory for the home team. Considering Washington led 17-0 earlier in the afternoon, it was quite a nerve racking conclusion for everyone involved, with the Commanders eeking out a 20-19 victory.
To absolutely no one’s surprise Jayden Daniels, returning back to the bayou where he won the Heisman Trophy at LSU, was the best player in the game. His preferred target, Terry McLaurin, had two touchdown catches and could have easily had two more. But Washington allowed eight sacks, committed nine penalties and failed to produce a consistent ground game without center Tyler Biadasz, who was a late scratch due to an illness.
Greg Joseph missed a 54-yard field goal attempt with roughly two minutes remaining that would have sealed the win for the visitors. Because kicker has been Washington’s least stable position on the roster all season — and for more than two decades — the newest addition to the roster was always unlikely to convert the long attempt. Nothing against Joseph, who is probably a solid kicker and/or human being. It’s just he’s the latest guy to walk through the revolving door at kicker this season, filling in for Zane Gonzalez, who was filling in for Austin Seibert, who replaced Cade York, who replaced Brandon McManus.
With veteran quarterback Derek Carr injured, interim coach Darren Rizzi opted to start Jake Haener, who led the Saints to just 38 yards of offense before he was benched at halftime in favor of Rattler. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore played 53 snaps in his burgundy and gold debut. New Orleans wisely opted to avoid the former Saints standout, not targeting the four-time Pro Bowler once the entire game.
While it wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty, the victory ensures Washington’s first winning season since 2016. Depressing stat of the day: The last time the franchise was 9-5 after 14 games was 1992. With three games remaining, the Commanders have an 88 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to the league’s website.
