When they last met: Washington and Cleveland

Washington hopes things go much better this time around.

“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.

Cleveland 34, Washington 20 – Week 3, September 27, 2020

Leading by three entering the final quarter, Washington saw Cleveland score the last 17 points, defeating Washington 34-20 at First Energy Stadium in Cleveland.

Washington had trailed 17-7 at the half; however in the third quarter an Antonio Gibson 2-yard run and an 11-yard scoring pass from Dwayne Haskins to Dontrelle Inman put Washington back in the lead entering the final period 20-17.

Yet the Browns (2-1) retook the lead on Baker Mayfield’s 3-yard pass to Harrison Bryant with 11:14 remaining in the game. Nick Chubb then scored from 20 yards with 8:40 remaining to extend the Browns lead to 31-20.

Washington had rushed the ball 22 times for 103 yards, averaging 4.7 a carry, led by Gibson’s 49 yards in his nine carries. However, Haskins struggled at times completing 21 of 37 passes for two touchdowns but also three interceptions.

Haskins also took three quarterback sacks for -18 yards, resulting in his final passer rating of a disappointing 58.8.

Meanwhile on the defensive side, Jonathan Allen led Washington with nine tackles (6 solo and 3 assisted) including a quarterback sack. Jon Bostic collected eight tackles (5 solo and 3 assisted). Montez Sweat contributed the other quarterback sack for Washington.

After opening with a home win over the Eagles, this was the second consecutive loss for Washington (1-2).

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Nick Chubb concerned about one bad apple ‘messing it up for everybody’

Former Georgia RB Nick Chubb has concerns that one player testing positive for COVID-19 could ruin it for everybody.

Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb, now ranked as the No. 3 running back in the NFL, is worried that one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel.

Chubb, who is entering his third year in the league, is fearful that something will go wrong with COVID-19 issues for his team the Cleveland Browns.

“My biggest concern is just one person messing it up for everybody,” Chubb said in a Zoom teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, when asked about the coronavirus. “If one person gets sick, if somebody somehow gets on the field around a lot more guys, he can spread it through that. We have tests every morning so I think that wouldn’t happen anyway, but if somehow some guy slipped past the test and all that, then that would worry me.”

The NFL has implemented strict safety guidelines for returning during the pandemic, but Chubb is right.  It would only take one to ruin it for everybody.

The NFL is faced with a much tougher situation than the NBA or NHL.  Teams are much larger and require a lot more space to conduct team activities.  The idea of a ‘NFL bubble’ is simply not feasible and the league will need to rely on trusting players to follow protocol, or things could get ugly.

The Browns have five players who decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.  That list has four offensive lineman including Drew Forbes, Drake Dorbeck, Colby Gossett and Malcolm Pridgeon.