K Joey Slye – Syndication Server

When they last met: Commanders vs. Cardinals

What happened the last time the Commanders played the Cardinals? We look back at that meeting.

“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 Commanders 20, Arizona Cardinals 16 – Week 1, Sep. 10, 2023

In a sloppy season opener at FedEx Field, the Commanders came from behind to defeat the Cardinals 20-16.

New starting quarterback Sam Howell ran for a touchdown and passed for another touchdown, and Joey Slye added two field goals for the Commanders.

Though no one was aware at the time, the game was a foreshadowing of what was to come in the 2023 season. How so?

Washington would trail at halftime.
The Commanders would have three turnovers losing the turnover battle.
Washington would give up six quarterback sacks on the day.
The Commanders were so horrible it would be the last home win of the 2023 season.

Washington trailed 13-7 after Howell was sacked, fumbled and Cameron Thomas scooped up the fumble and only had to travel two yards for a Cardinals touchdown.

Trailing 16-10 after three quarters, Sam Howell concluded a 29-yard drive in 7 plays with his own 6-yard touchdown, putting the Commanders on top of the Cardinals 17-16.

Following another Cardinals fumble, the Commanders could only generate seven yards, but it was enough for Joey Slye’s 33-yard field goal and the final scoring margin of 20-16.

Brian Robinson Jr. led Washington rushing with 59 yards in 19 carries, while Howell completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, a touchdown pass to Robinson and one interception, finishing with a passer rating of 77.6.

Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson both had five receptions for 54 and 40 yards, respectively, while Logan Thomas caught four receptions for 43 yards.

Defensively, Montez Sweat (1.5), Jonathan Allen (1.0), and Abdullah Anderson (0.5) all contributed a quarterback sack. Sweat, Allen and Daron Payne all totaled two tackles for a loss. Payne and Anderson both also recovered a Cardinals fumble.

When they last met: Commanders vs. Buccaneers

Remember the last time Washington faced Tampa Bay?

“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 29, Tampa Bay 19 – Week 10, Nov. 10, 2021

Taylor Heinicke had perhaps his finest game for Washington, leading the Football Team to an upset win at FedEx Field over Tampa Bay 29-19.

Heinicke completed 26 of 32 for 256 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions, while the defending Super Bowl champion Tom Brady threw two interceptions that set up scores for Washington.

The 6-2 Buccaneers, though the road team, entered the game a solid 9.5-point favorite. But the Football Team, which was 2-6, found itself up 13-0, as Brady was intercepted twice.

Joey Slye connected on field goals from 56 and 28 yards. Heinicke connected with DeAndre Carter from 20 yards, and Washington led 13-0 in the second quarter.

Following a Buccaneers field goal, Joey Slye connected again, this time from 29 yards, with 58 seconds remaining in the half for a 16-3 Washington lead.

Brady connected with Cameron Brate from six yards, narrowing Tampa Bay’s deficit to 16-13 with 8:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Antonio Gibson scored from a yard out, extending Washington’s lead to 23-13 at 4:21 of the third quarter.

Brady then found Mike Evans from 40 yards, and the Bucs closed to 23-19, but Ryan Succup’s extra point was missed, meaning the Bucs couldn’t tie with a field goal but would need a touchdown.

Washington then drove 80 yards in 19 plays, taking 10:26 of time. Gibson again scored from one yard for the final 29-19 margin.

Terry McLaurin led Washington with six receptions for 59 yards, and Carter contributed 3 for 56 yards. Evans led Tampa Bay with 62 receiving yards, and Chris Godwin contributed 57. Brady finished 23 of 34 for 220 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Note: This was the game Washington defensive end Chase Young tore an ACL and was thus out for the remainder of 2021 and most of 2022.

When they last met: Commanders and Seahawks

Kendall Fuller was the hero the last time these two teams 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 17, Seattle 15 – Week 12, November 29, 2021

Kendall Fuller intercepted Russell Wilson’s two-point pass attempt with 15 seconds remaining, sealing Washington’s 17-15 win over Seattle at FedEx Field.

With 2:25 remaining, Washington led 17-9 and faced a 4th & goal from the 4. Kicker Joey Slye had pulled a hamstring earlier in the game, so Ron Rivera chose to go for the touchdown rather than a chip shot field goal to go up two scores.

Taylor Heinicke’s pass to Logan Thomas was caught and called a touchdown. However, replay revealed Thomas did not have control of the ball as he went to the ground and the Seahawks took over at their own 4 with 2:19 remaining.

Suddenly, the Washington defense was not in control. Russell Wilson completed seven passes and the Seahawks found themselves with a 1st & 10 at the Washington 32.

Wilson then connected with receiver Freddie Swain for a 32-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining, narrowing the Washington lead to 17-15. This set the stage for Fuller’s game-saving interception in the end zone for Washington.

Seattle’s onside kick was then recovered by Washington receiver Adam Humphries as Washington (5-6) escaped with a narrow victory on Monday Night Football.

Taylor Heinicke completed 27 of 35 for 223 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. Antonio Gibson rushed for 111 yards on 29 carries. He also led with 7 receptions for 35 yards.

When they last met: Commanders and Eagles

We all remember what happened the last time these two teams 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 32, Philadelphia 21 – Week 10, Nov. 14, 2022

The 4-5 Commanders traveled to Philadelphia for a Monday Night Football contest against the undefeated 8-0 NFC East rival Eagles.

The unexpected occurred as it was the 10.5-point underdog Commanders who actually came out on top with a surprising 32-21 upset over the Eagles before a national television audience.

Here are the game highlights.

Kicker Joey Slye had a career night as he connected on field goals from 44, 58, 32 and 55 yards.

Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner came into the game with a plan to best keep the ball away from the high-scoring Eagles, and the game plan worked tremendously.

As the Commanders continued to move the chains, they determined to keep running the ball. In fact, they ran the ball so much that the Commanders gained 152 yards on 49 carries, while the Eagles accumulated only 46 total offensive plays.

As a result of running the ball continuously, the Commanders maintained possession of the ball 40:24, while the Eagles only managed to have possession for a mere 19:36.

After trailing 7-0 and 14-7, the Commanders took their first lead at 1:39 remaining in the half on Brian Robinson’s 1-yard run. Two Slye field goals extended the Washington lead to 23-14.

Leading 26-21, defensive end Casey Toohill picked up a backward lateral from one yard out for the final 32-21 upset margin.

The Commanders won the turnover battle 4-2, while Robinson finished with 86 yards on his 26 carries. Terry McLaurin contributed 128 receiving yards on his 8 receptions. Jamin Davis was the leading Washington tackler with 9 tackles, including 5 solo and 4 assisted.

Commanders season opener in 6 days: Washington’s best No. 6

Six days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season. A lot of players have worn the No. 6 jersey, but no one has stood out.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 6 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 6?

Wearing No. 6 in Washington history nine players have kicked the ball, while two players have passed the ball.

Both quarterbacks were only in Washington for a single season. Shane Matthews played for his ‘ole ball coach from Florida, Steve Spurrier, in 2002. Mark Sanchez was not part of the team when the 2018 season began. But after Alex Smith and Colt McCoy both suffered a broken leg ending their seasons, Sanchez came out of retirement for two games, playing in one.

The first player to wear No. 6 in Washington history was Ali Haji-Sheikh. He kicked during the 1987 season, and his last game for Washington and in the NFL was Washington’s Super Bowl XXII 42-10 win over Denver.

At age 37, Tommy Barnhardt punted for Washington during his last NFL season in 2000. David Akers kicked in Week 3 1998 for Washington, making both extra points but missing both field goal attempts, and that was it for Akers. Wouldn’t you know it, he next went to Philadelphia and kicked for 12 seasons against Washington.

Ola Kimrin kicked five games in the 2004 season, Josh Bidwell punted four games in the 2010 season, and Nick Rose kicked eight games for Washington in 2017.

Saverio Rocca from Australia punted his last three seasons in the NFL for the Redskins. Rocca punted all 16 games during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons at ages 38, 39 and 40.

Shaun Suisham came to the Redskins during the 2006 season and made 8 of 9 field goals, kicking the last five games of the season. The following season Suisham connected 29 times in his 35 attempts. In 2008 Suisham was successful on 26 of his 36 field goal attempts. Making 18 of 21 field goals in 2009, Suisham was having a good year but was released after the Week 12 game when he made three of four field goal attempts.

Commanders Tress Way involved in kicking competition

Way weighs on Washington’s kicking competition.

Tress Way is in a big competition this training camp.

No, Way is not in danger of losing his job as punter. However, the veteran of 145 Washington regular season games is heavily involved in the battle for place kicker.

Way is the holder on extra points and field goal attempts; thus Way is holding for both Joey Slye and Michael Badgley in the battle for the kicker roster spot.

This also involves long snapper Camaron Cheeseman. Way conveyed Friday that Cheeseman is working hard at his game as well.

“He’s been working on this grip and man, he’s throwing nails, but that hardest transition is into those team periods and preseason. We were talking about it after because, I mean, that dude works his tail off, and it’s been bugging him. And I was like, man, that’s the ultimate time to just trust yourself; you gotta do it like you gotta go out there, the team situations and preseason games because it’s ultimately the way to go. He has been snapping great.”

Way talked of how Cheeseman is not relaxing but is working to develop more of his skill set. He referred to last season:

“He was snapping good, he just didn’t really like his rotation. And me being the holder, I was like, yeah, man, I’d really like a perfect spiral too; that’d be nice to catch. And so, he’s just working on it and made that change this summer.”

Back to the kicking competition. If both are to perform at their very best throughout training camp, then it is also up to the holder (Way) to not only make a clean catch of the snap, but get the ball down with the particular preference of each kicker.

“The biggest thing is just remembering their tilts. Every kicker with their swing plane and how they position their foot; they like the ball and different tilts. And then, ultimately, it’s just kind of kind of fun being the middleman. Like I feel the snap from Cheese, and I’m trying to give these guys the best opportunity. I mean, dude, those specialist competitions, they’re no joke.”

Way was then asked about the difference in the preferences of the two kickers competing for the job.

“Joey likes his ball a little bit more forward, and he kind of has this swing plane where, I mean, it’s really beautiful to watch. He kind of comes up and through and goes through the entire ball, and Badge is kinda more like that old school style where it’s a little bit tilted to the side but straight up and down in terms of depth, and he just comes sweeping through.”

One thing Way made abundantly clear is that he wants no part of kickoffs. He is leaving that to the winner of the battle between Slye and Badgley.