Tag: Taylor Heinicke crushing interception

It was Kirk Cousins who delivered in the final quarter to defeat Commanders

Kirk Cousins delivered in the fourth quarter, Taylor Heinicke did not. That was the difference between a win and a loss Sunday.

You can’t be successful if you can’t handle pressure.

Kirk Cousins displayed more experience and more poise in the big moments today. Consequently the Vikings defeated the Commanders 20-17.

Both Cousins and Taylor Heinicke were under pressure, made uncomfortable, forced to throw off balance and were made to look bad at times.

Yet, the final quarter is much more important than earlier portions of a close game. Consequently, Cousins came through when his team needed it most, and for those of us pulling for Washington, Heinicke shrunk in the big moments.

Washington led 17-7 with 14:14 remaining and had held the Vikings to a mere nine offensive plays that produced a measly 13 yards. But now the Vikings were down two scores, and this is where Cousins leadership and experience began to rise in the moment.

Cousins completed two passes for 58 yards to Justin Jefferson, the Vikings drive produced a Greg Joseph field goal and the Commanders lead was down to one score.

Heinicke badly missed 6-foot-6 TE Logan Thomas and was intercepted by Harrison Smith. Two plays later, Cousins pounced on the opportunity, lofting a perfect pass over Kam Curl to Dalvin Cook and the game was tied.

Heinicke needed to produce at least enough to force the Vikings to have a long field. However, he burned no clock and picked up no first downs.

Cousins had one last possession in regulation. Cousins to T.J. Hockenson for 10 yards and a first down. Again it was Cousins to Hockenson for another first down, most importantly, burning clock, ensuring Washington had already had its last opportunity.

It was a physical game, not easy on the two quarterbacks. Indeed the Commanders sacked Cousins twice and put an additional 11 QB hits on the former Washington quarterback. Heinicke was sacked three times, and the Vikings put 7 QB hits on him as well.

Cousins did earn the respect of the Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, who following the game volunteered, “I mean, if you can stand in there and take them licks like that and get the ball down the field, I commend you, being tough like that.”

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The big win that got away from the Commanders

We explain how the Commanders blew a very winnable game against the Vikings.

Leading the Vikings 17-10, the Commanders were facing a 2nd &11 on their own 30-yard line.

With 8:10 remaining, Taylor Heinicke caught the snap standing on his own 25. Looking to his left, he began dropping straight back in his drop. When his right foot landed on the 20, he turned his attention to the middle of the field. He targeted TE Logan Thomas at the 42, but his pass sailed high over the 6-foot-6 and outstretched Thomas into the arms of Vikings free safety Harrison Smith at the 47.

Smith made the interception, broke toward the left sideline, returning it 35 yards to the Washington 12. Two plays later Kirk Cousins perfectly lofted a pass over Kam Curl into the left hand of Dalvin Cook for the tying touchdown as the clock read 7:46 remaining in the game.

I really dislike being simplistic, but leading 17-10, the defense playing well, the home crowd really into the game, Heinicke’s interception literally opened the gate for the Vikings.

The Vikings defense fired up, then held the Commanders to a mere 3 plays and -5 yards, sacking Heinicke on 3rd & 6 from the 29 for a 9-yard loss back on the Commanders 20.

FedEx Field had been rocking throughout the third and into the final quarter. Now the Vikings were taking possession at their own 44.

This final Vikings possession was like waiting all morning into the afternoon for a funeral to begin. The Commanders were now unable to stop the Vikings from producing three first downs. Then a penalty on defensive tackle John Ridgeway gifted a fourth first down to the Vikings.

All that remained was Greg Joseph to convert an easy 28-yard game-winning field goal with 12 seconds remaining, putting the Commanders and their fans out of their misery of watching a 17-7 4th quarter lead evaporate.

The Commanders could smell a fourth consecutive win and a 5-4 winning record being theirs in only a few minutes. Yet, they couldn’t finish off the Vikings when the Vikings were on the ropes and in trouble.

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