Tag: QB Alex Smith

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.

Former Commanders QB traded Wednesday

Taylor Heinicke is on the move.

Former Commanders’ fan favorite, Taylor Heinicke, was traded Wednesday by the Atlanta Falcons.

This past offseason, the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins in free agency and drafted Michael Pennix in the first round. So Wednesday, the Falcons decided to trade Heinicke to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Falcons will receive a conditional sixth-round draft choice in the 2025 NFL draft. The Chargers quarterback room was in a bit of a quandary. They had cut Luis Perez, while Easton Stick had an unimpressive preseason. If that wasn’t enough, starter Justin Herbert has been battling plantar fasciitis.

Herbert is practicing and working through it, but the Chargers saw they needed someone with actual regular-season experience who could learn the offense quickly.

Commanders fans will recall that then-head coach Ron Rivera had released quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith was injured as his heavily damaged leg was wearing down in December, and Heinicke, who was taking classes toward an engineering master’s degree, was signed by Washington.

Heinicke dove in head-first, learned the offense, and started the 2020 playoff game against Tampa Bay. He passed for one touchdown and one interception. The former Old Dominion Monarch quarterback also executed perhaps the most exciting play by a Washington quarterback since the 2012 Robert Griffin season.

He struggled with consistency too often in his three seasons with Washington (2020-22), but certainly no one will argue that Taylor Heinicke was a leader on the team and made some fantastic plays while with the Commanders.

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels becomes No. 8

A new number for Jayden Daniels — but not a jersey number.

Prior to the start of training camp, Commanders’ long-time punter Tress Way offered up his No. 5 to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

On Monday, Daniels became Washington’s No. 8. However, we are not talking about jersey number eight. No, on Monday, Daniels became the eighth quarterback to be named the opening-day starter for the eighth consecutive season.

That’s right. Did you realize Kirk Cousins is the last quarterback for the Washington franchise to start on consecutive opening days?

Cousins was the starter for three consecutive seasons (2015-17), and prior to that, Robert Griffin had been the starter for three consecutive seasons (2012-14).

Griffin and Alfred Morris led a potent ground attack in 2012. Griffin gained 815 yards on the ground and led the league in averaging 6.8 yards a carry. Morris gained a whopping 1,613 yards, which remains the single-season franchise record. It was also the last time Washington won ten games in a regular season.

But 2013 and 2014 were not winning seasons for Griffin and the Redskins. The last quarterback to lead Washington to a winning regular season record was Cousins. The Redskins were 9-7 in 2015 and 8-7-1 in 2016.

Following Griffin (2012) and Cousins (2015 & 2016), no Washington quarterback has led the team to a winning regular season record.

Here are the opening day named starters for the last eight Washington NFL seasons:

  • 2017 Kirk Cousins 7-9
  • 2018 Alex Smith 7-9
  • 2019 Case Keenum 3-13
  • 2020 Dwayne Haskins 7-9
  • 2021 Ryan Fitzpatrick 7-10
  • 2022 Carson Wentz 8-8-1
  • 2023 Sam Howell 4-13
  • 2024 Jayden Daniels ?-?