Commanders Vs. Eagles (NFC Championship Game) – Studs and Duds

The magical season has finally ended – and it did so in very ugly fashion. Washington got an old-fashioned tail-whooping at the hands of their division foe, and it showed the country that they are just not at that level yet.

The Commanders were dominated on defense from the first snap of the game as Philly rushed for 229 yards and SEVEN touchdowns, and Jalen Hurts had his way with the Washington secondary going an impressive 20-28 for 246 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles defense kept pressure on Jayden Daniels all game and didn’t allow a reception over 20 yards through the air.

It was an embarrassingly sad ending to a story-book season, but having said that, the future in D.C. looks brighter than it had been in decades.

Below are my Studs and Duds of the game followed by some Notes.

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Studs:

Zach Ertz – Ertz didn’t do anything spectacular, however he was the one constant for an otherwise stagnate offense. He finished the game with 11 receptions for 104 yards. A very nice comeback season for the veteran tight end.

Frankie Luvu – I find it very hard to give any defensive player Stud status after this massacre, however Luvu left it all out there on the field and was one of the ONLY players on the defensive side of the ball that did anything all game. Luvu had four tackles, two for a loss, a sack and three pressures.

Zane Gonzalez – Gonzalez was a perfect three-for-three in the game with a long of 46.

Tress Way – Way hasn’t gotten too much love this season, and most of that is probably because of his lack of punts, but he threw a beautiful pass on a well-designed fake to Ben Sinnott early in the game – and in a lopsided loss like this one, that deserves some credit. His lone punt of the game went for 45 yards.

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Duds:

Nick Allegretti – Allegretti didn’t look like an NFL starter in the least throughout the game. It was an embarrassingly bad performance by the left guard.

Tyler Biadasz – I find it hard pressed to find anyone on the team who played worse than Nick Allegretti, but Biadasz may have given him a run for his money.

Brandon Coleman – I get Coleman is a rookie, but he had an AWFUL first season at left tackle. I think Adam Peters should draft or sign a true left tackle and move Coleman inside to left guard. He lacks the hands and contact balance to be our franchise quarterback’s blindside protector.

Marshon Lattimore – Lattimore had another rough outing getting beat deep on a 3rd and 13, committing pass interference in the endzone, and missing multiple tackles.

Mike Sainristil – Sainristil has a very bright future in Washington, but this was not his best game. He gave up multiple easy receptions, including a touchdown to Brown, and had a costly late hit penalty on what would have been a third down stop.

Ball Security – Dyami Brown, Jeremy McNichols and Austin Ekeler all lost costly fumbles on the afternoon. Against a team like Philly, these can’t happen.

Washington Team Tackling – Tackling was HORRIBLE. It started on the first play on defense where Martin and Chinn missed tackles on Saquon Barkley, and it continued through the game.

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Notes:

• First and foremost, hats off to Adam Peters, Dan Quinn and the ownership group led by Josh Harris on an amazing season. NO ONE expected this type of turnaround, and this group needs to be given credit.
• Jayden Daniels had a magical rookie season, but he got no help from his team today – and at some point, the magic had to end. What a bright future this young man has, and it will be fun watching him break records for the next decade plus.

• I’ve said this multiple times during the season, but Washington needs to get better at running back. Brian Robinson isn’t moving the needle for anyone.
• The defensive front was getting absolutely mauled all afternoon, but Jon Allen made a few nice plays and looked like the only one who came to play.

• Dorance Armstrong had some mistakes against the run, but he did notch a sack and added two pressures.

• HTTC!!!