Washington Commanders (3-4) – Green Bay Packers (3-4): 23-21
On two consecutive defeats, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers wanted to take advantage of their trip to the capital to reassure themselves a little. Instead they kept digging. Still unrecognizable in attack and unable to slow down the duo Taylor Heinicke – Terry McLaurin in the second half, Green Bay is now going into the negative…
If you like the aerial game, go your way
The Packers’ game plan in the first minutes of the game is quite clear: feed running back Aaron Jones with balls. Little used during the fiasco against the Jets last week, Jones (8 races, 23 yards, 9 REC, 53 yards, 2 TD) seized the opportunity to shine. He makes several good runs but during the second drive of the Packers, it is at the reception that he makes the difference since he finds the end zone on a short pass from Aaron Rodgers (23/35 passing, 194 yards , 2 hands-on).
Without Carson Wentz and rookie receiver Jahan Dotson, the Commanders push the limits of mediocrity on the other side of the ball. The replacement quarterback Taylor Heinicke (20/33, 200 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) is desperate and passes several times on the verge of interception. And at the start of the second quarter, he was finally sanctioned by De’Vondre Campbell who intercepted one of his passes to return it to the opposing end zone. It could even have been worse since two drives later, a sack-fumble turning into a touchdown was canceled following a defensive penalty against Green Bay.
Despite these galleys, Washington still manages to stay in contact with the Packers, once again unable to truly advance in the air (only 47 yards passing for Rodgers in the first half). The Commanders first take advantage of an opposing muff punt to score a field goal at the end of the first quarter, before finally achieving a convincing drive of 12 games and 83 yards under the impetus in particular of the two runners Brian Robinson Jr. (74 yards on the ground) and Antonio Gibson (59 yards running, 18 receiving, 1 TD). Led 14-3, Washington returned to 14-10 thanks to a touchdown received by the latter.
Washington commands!
Returning from the locker room, Taylor Heinicke shows a much better face than at the start of the match. On Washington’s first drive in the second period and after a great run from Curtis Samuel (52 receiving yards, 26 rushing), Heinicke sends a bomb to Terry McLaurin (5 REC, 73 yards, 1 TD) for a touchdown 37 yards. For the first time in the game, the Commanders are in the lead 17-14 and all of a sudden, the momentum switches completely in favor of the hosts. Their advantage will even climb thanks to a field goal at the end of the third quarter after a long drive of almost nine minutes (20-14). Clearly, Washington has taken control.
Terry McLaurin on the head of Jaire Alexander 😱 Washington takes control#GBvsWAS #HTTC
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/xqhc5ypkM5
— DNA of Sports.com – NFL News 🏈 (@DNA of Sports) October 23, 2022
Meanwhile, the Packers offense continues to be utterly sad. At the start of the fourth quarter, Aaron Rodgers’ band is at… 0/7 on third downs. And as a symbol, Green Bay does not even manage to cross a fourth & 1 on a pass from Rodgers at the start of the fourth quarter. The Commanders take the opportunity to take two possessions ahead with a new field goal following a 26-yard reception from Curtis Samuel.
Led 23-14 with less than seven minutes to play, the Packers are heading for another rather shameful defeat, especially since number one receiver Allen Lazard is injured (in addition to Randall Cobb absent). What keeps them alive? Several Washington defensive penalties that allow Green Bay to advance, before Aaron Rodgers becomes Aaron Rodgers the time of an action with an exceptional pass for Aaron Jones in the end zone. 23-21, everything is restarted!
Unfortunately for the Packers, Taylor Heinicke and Terry McLaurin pull out all the stops when needed, especially on a third attempt with nine yards to go. The Commanders eat the clock almost to the end under the eyes of a helpless Rodgers, who recovers the ball with only twenty seconds to play and no time-out. And despite an accumulation of side passes in the final moments, there will be no miracle for Green Bay. Just another disappointment.
