Two teams with proud traditions met Sunday afternoon at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. The Washington Commanders, a rejuvenated franchise with new ownership, new management and coaching staff and an overhauled roster from last season, fell short to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a rejuvenated team with a new quarterback and a defense that at times brings to mind the Steel Curtain of the 1970’s.
Following an offsides penalty by Commanders defensive tackle Johnny Newton on a fourth and one with 1:02 remaining in the game and no timeouts remaining for Washington, the Steelers moved into victory formation with a 28-27 win.
While mistakes happen in every football game, some mistakes mean more than others. The rookie Newton hopefully learns a powerful lesson after getting drawn offsides on a 4th and 1 that ended any Commanders hopes of getting the ball back a chance to win the game. Punt returner Olamide Zaccheaus muffed a punt early in the first quarter when the ball hit his helmet and fell to the ground. But Zaccheaus quickly recovered the ball. His same muff happened again, in the same way, at the end of the first quarter and this time Pittsburgh recovered the fumble at the Commanders 14-yard line. Moments later, Russell Wilson’s three-yard pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth gave the Steelers a 14-7 lead.
The Steelers made their share of mistakes as well. During the first quarter, following a brilliant 16-yard touchdown grab by George Pickens from Wilson to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead, the Steelers were forced to punt at their own 15-yard line. However, coaches risked a fake punt that was executed perfectly except the pass from safety Miles Killebrew to wide-open cornerback James Pierre, Jr., was dropped. As a result, the Commanders drove 15 yards to tie the score at seven with a one-yard run by Austin Ekeler.
After Friermuth’s touchdown in the second quarter, the Commanders drove the ball 40 yards to the Pittsburgh 30-yard line and Zane Gonzalez, filling in for kicker Austin Seibert, hit a 48-yard field goal to make the game 14-10. The Commanders defense held the Steelers and then march downfield in the final five minutes of the quarter and on first and goal, Dyami Brown, bless his heart, did his best Jackie Smith imitation in the end zone and dropped a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Daniels. Only, it wasn’t Super Bowl XIII and it didn’t cost the Commanders a touchdown. Two plays later, Ekeler scored again running to his left into the end zone for a 17-14 halftime lead.
The Commanders started the second half as they ended it, starting with a 54-yard pass play from Daniels to Terry McLaurin for a 54-yard gain to the Pittsburgh 17-yard line and then scoring a touchdown with a one-yard run up the middle by Jeremy McNichols.
The Steelers offense countered with a nine play, 75-yard drive and a one-yard run by Najee Harris to make the score 24-21. After the Commanders increased their lead to 27-21, Wilson threw an interception to Jeremy Chinn trying to hit Pickens on long pass play. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers drove 86 yards on 14 plays only to have Commanders safety Quan Martin force a fumble by running back Jaylen Warren and Chinn recovering at the Commanders one-yard line.
All mistakes aside, the Commanders were forced to punt to the Steelers and taking over at the Washington 46-yard line, Wilson drove the offense to a 3rd and 9 at the 32 yard line. Wilson threw a 32-yard touchdown pass deep left to newly acquired wide receiver Mike Williams for 28-27 lead.
Williams wasn’t open by mistake. He beat cornerback Benjamin St-Juste one-on-one down field. It’s one of the reasons that the Commanders traded this week for former New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury. Lattimore can also serve as a lock-down cornerback when he’s healthy.
If Sunday’s game proved anything, it’s again that this Washington football team is one or two game-changing players away from turning losses against elite NFL teams into wins. The Commanders face four division opponents in the next seven games and to have any chance to reach and succeed in the playoffs, they’ll need those game-changing players.
Lattimore and power running back Brian Robinson, Jr., didn’t play against the Steelers but losing to a top AFC opponent has much less sting than losing to an NFC division opponent. Lattimore and Robinson will need to step up soon because this Thursday, the Commanders play division leader Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field for first place in the NFC East.
In other words, the Commanders need to take their game to the next level because winter is coming.
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