The Washington Commanders had a chance to upset the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday but came up short, 38-31, to fall to 3-5 on the season. After starting 2-0, Washington has lost five of its last six games.
It was another impressive performance from quarterback Sam Howell, who had Washington up 14-3 in the second quarter after touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. However, the Eagles seized momentum when Howell’s fourth-down pass late in the fourth quarter fell incomplete.
The Eagles marched down the field, and A.J. Brown had a phenomenal touchdown catch to make it 14-10. Amazingly, with 34 seconds left in the half, Howell took the Commanders down the field, setting up kicker Joey Slye to hit a 61-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, quarterback Jalen Hurts hit Brown for his second touchdown of the day. Suddenly, we were tied, and the game looked a lot like the Week 4 contest.
Howell took Washington back down the field again, throwing a strike to tight end Logan Thomas for the score and a 24-17 lead. Hurts, and the Eagles answered.
The game changed midway through the fourth quarter when Eagles safety Reed Blankenship intercepted Howell. Hurts threw his fourth touchdown to give the Eagles a 31-24 lead.
Washington had a chance to tie — multiple times — but failed. Howell hit McLaurin on two plays, but the sure-handed McLaurin didn’t come up with either catch. In fairness to McLaurin, the throws were low, but he’d tell you he needs to make those catches.
Finally, on the Commanders’ next-to-last drive, Howell hit Dotson across the middle. Dotson bobbled the ball but never lost control. The officials ruled it incomplete; Washington challenged and lost. That also cost the Commanders a timeout. On the next play, Howell’s throw to McLaurin fell incomplete.
The Eagles scored another late touchdown to make it 38-24. Howell and the Commanders went down the field for another score on an excellent throw and catch from Howell to Jamison Crowder. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late for Washington.
Howell finished the game by completing 39 of 52 passes for 397 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Dotson had his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Crowder caught seven passes for 95 yards and a score, and McLaurin caught five for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Washington travels to New England in Week 9.