Tag: 2020 Washington Football Team

When they last met: Commanders and Steelers

Do you remember the last time Washington and Pittsburgh played?

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 23, Pittsburgh 17 – Week 13, December 7, 2020

After falling behind by 14 points in the second quarter, Washington stormed back to defeat Pittsburgh 23-17 at Heinz Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Entering the game at 4-7, Washington quickly found themselves down to the undefeated 11-0 Steelers when Ben Roethlisberger connected with Diontae Johnson from three yards and then James Washington from 50 yards.

But a Dustin Hopkins 49-yard field goal with only:01 remaining in the half not only got Washington on the scoreboard but also seemed to ignite the team.

Washington drove 82 yards in 14 plays on their next possession, drawing to within 14-10 when Peyton Barber scored from one yard.

On the first play of the final quarter, Matthew Wright’s 37-yard field goal extended the Steelers lead back to 17-10. But that would be the last time the Steelers would score, as Washington dominated the rest of the way.

Driving 53 yards in eight plays, Alex Smith’s 15-yard touchdown to Logan Thomas tied the score with 9:08 remaining.

A nine-play drive followed, resulting in a Hopkins 45-yard field goal for a 20-17 Washington lead with 2:04 on the clock. After a Jonathan Bostic interception, Hopkins’ 45-yard field goal closed out the scoring for Washington.

The game also turned the seasons of the two teams. Washington would go forward and win the NFC East, while the Steelers never recovered, losing four of their final five in the regular season and then also their first-round playoff game to the Cleveland Browns.

 

When they last met: Commanders vs. Bengals

What happened the last time these two teams met?

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington Football Team 20, Cincinnati Bengals 9 – Week 11, Nov. 22, 2020

In gaining 94 rushing yards, Antonio Gibson led Washington to a 20-9 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at FedEx Field in Landover.

Gibson, with his 16 carries, helped Washington control the ball, including his 1-yard run in the opening quarter, which gave Washington a 7-0 lead.

Trailing 9-7 in the third quarter with 8:58 remaining in the third quarter, quarterback Alex Smith connected with Steven Sims from three yards out, pushing Washington back ahead 14-9.

Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins then added successful field goals from 32 and 50 yards, extending Washington’s lead to 20-9.

Terry McLaurin led the Washington receivers with five receptions for 84 yards, including a 42-yarder.  J.D. McKissic contributed six rushing attempts for 43 yards and three receptions for 26 yards.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, then a rookie, dropped back to pass deep in the Cincinnati end, leading 9-7 with 11:41 remaining in the third quarter. Just after he released the ball, Jonathan Allen hit him (cleanly). Burrow went to the ground, immediately in pain, grabbing at his left knee. He would be lost for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. He had completed 22 of 34 attempts for 203 yards.

Commanders Taylor Heinicke went from quarantine QB to starter

Taylor Heinicke’s journey in less than two years is a heckuva story. And it ties back to an undrafted wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Commanders fans, do you recall Kendall Hinton?

Hinton is a good percentage of the reason why you have Taylor Heinicke today in 2022.

On Nov. 22, 2020, the Broncos defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-13, raising their record to 4-6. But that was the last good news for the Broncos that week.

Suddenly, Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19, and Drew Lock and Brett Rypien were also declared ineligible, having been with Driskel without wearing masks.

The Broncos were unprepared for such a disaster of suddenly losing, not one but all three of their quarterbacks on the roster. But the (NFL) show must go on. So taking snaps that day was Kendall Hinton.

Hinton was not an NFL quarterback, and he certainly didn’t have enough time to prep, to make much of a difference in his performance. He was only age 23 at the time and was an undrafted wide receiver from Wake Forest.

Yet there he was being forced to play quarterback in an NFL regular season game having no previous NFL experience at quarterback. The Broncos attempted to run the ball as much as they could gaining 100 yards on their 33 rushes.

Hinton attempted nine passes, completing one for 13 yards. He was sacked once and intercepted twice for an NFL passer rating of 0.0. It was a disaster; the Broncos of course lost badly to the Saints 31-3.

With the Minnesota Vikings staff, Scott Turner got to work some with Taylor Heinicke an undrafted quarterback out of Old Dominion. Heinicke had seen some action in the preseason, never appearing in a regular season game over two seasons (2015-16).

The Patriots signed and released Heinicke in 2017, as did the Texans, although he did attempt one pass for the Texans in 2017.

Turner and Ron Rivera signed Heinicke for the Carolina Panthers, and he started one game in 2018.

In December 2020, Turner called Heinicke, and Washington signed Heinicke to be its quarantine quarterback. He would study the offense, work out and pretty much be isolated initially.

Suddenly, Alex Smith’s leg was injured again, and Dwayne Haskins was not taking responsibility. Heinicke was brought up to the practice squad, then the roster appeared against the Panthers on Dec. 27, and got the start against the Bucs in the playoff game.

In 2022, Washington has won four of five games Heinicke has started, and he was named the team’s starter (not Carson Wentz) moving forward.

As Rivera said Monday, “It’s a heck of a story.”

 

When they last met: Washington and Detroit

Washington hasn’t been good in Detroit over the last decade.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Detroit 30, Washington 27 – Week 10, November 15, 2020

Matt Prater’s 59-yard field goal on the game’s final play provided the Lions their 30-27 victory over the Washington Football Team at Ford Field in Detroit.

When Lions quarterback Matt Stafford connected with running back D’Andre Swift for a 15-yard touchdown, the Lions led comfortably 24-3 with 7:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Washington suddenly responded, scoring 21 consecutive points. J.D. McKissic’s 2-yard run with 2:30 remaining in the third gave Washington hope. Then Antonio Gibson scored from the 2 with 11:21 remaining to bring Washington to within 24-17. Another Washington drive resulted in Gibson scoring from the 5-yard line, tying the game with 6:09 showing on the game clock.

The Lions responded with Prater’s 37-yard field goal. But with 2:37 remaining in the game, it was time for Alex Smith to drive Washington to tie the game with 16 seconds remaining on Dustin Hopkins’ 41-yard field goal.

Astonishingly, the Washington defense could not keep the Lions from driving, setting up Prater’s 59-yard kick. From the 25, the defense surrendered a 10-yard pass. The next play was a Stafford incompletion leaving Detroit with only 6 seconds from their own 35.

However, rookie Chase Young had taken a cheap-shot shove into the back of Stafford, clearly late after Stafford’s incompletion, moving the ball 15 yards to the midfield stripe.

Washington defenders stood 10 yards off of Detroit receivers, so Stafford quickly connected with Marvin Jones for 9 yards to the Washington 41, in time for Prater to nail the game-winning field goal.

The Lions have won the last four games played in Detroit (2020, 2016, 2010, 2009).