Tag: QB Carson Wentz

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 ?-?

 

When they last met: Commanders and Bears

It was ugly — and on Thursday night.

“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 12, Chicago 7 – Week 6,  October 13, 2022

Talk about winning ugly; that is exactly what the Commanders did, defeating the Bears 12-7 in a Thursday Night game at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Darnell Mooney bobbled what would have been the winning touchdown for the Bears, gifting the Commanders a 12-7 win in Chicago.

The Commanders had led 12-7, and Joey Slye had the opportunity to give Washington an eight-point lead with 1:49 remaining. However, Slye badly hooked his attempt wide left.

The Bears then drove 61 yards in eight plays against the Commanders defense. On 4th & Goal from the 4, Justin Fields looked right, spotted Mooney and fired his pass. The ball crossed the imaginary plane of the front of the end zone into Mooney’s hands. However, Mooney bobbled the ball, was hit by Benjamin St-Juste, and, falling back into the field of play, gained possession of the ball at the one-yard line. This gave the ball back to the Commanders for one quarterback sneak/kneel, running out the clock.

The game was ugly from start to finish. The only scoring of the first half was a Slye 38-yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the first half.

Fields connected with Dante Pettis on a 40-yard touchdown pass, providing the Bears their 7-3 lead through three quarters. Slye then was successful on a 28-yard field goal nine seconds into the final quarter for a 7-6 Bears lead.

Washington was gifted another scoring opportunity when on a Tress Way 57-yard punt, Christian Holmes recovered a muffed punt, giving Washington 1st & Goal from the Bears 6.

The second of two Brian Robinson runs was good enough with the help of a Carson Wentz block, providing Washington a 12-7 lead in the final quarter.

Fields gave the Commanders defense trouble all night, rushing for 88 yards with a long of 39 yards. But the Commanders defense sacked Fields five times and intercepted him once.

The Commanders offense struggled all night, with Wentz completing 12 of 22 passes for 99 yards, while Robinson could manage only 60 yards on his 17 rushing attempts. It was later discovered Wentz had actually fractured a finger on his throwing hand.