The visiting Commanders couldn’t generate much offense themselves and lost to the Rams Sunday 28-20.
Meanwhile, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 33 passes for 258 yards, including two touchdowns, as the Rams were leading 20-0 early in the third quarter.
Some will point to the Commanders’ (4-10) two touchdowns with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. Go ahead, but the Rams led 20-0, and as soon as Washington scored to narrow the deficit to 20-7, the Rams scored again to extend their lead to a comfortable 28-7.
Yes, it’s clear the Commanders (not the “Commodores” as was announced by color analyst James Lofton) did score twice following Ron Rivera pulling starter Sam Howell in the fourth quarter to go with the backup Brissett.
Yet, the question must be asked, had the Rams lost much of their intensity when they scored to go up by 21 points at 28-7? In addition, they had substituted All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald out of the game at this point.
Following the Commander’s five-play 67-yard drive to score, reducing the Washington deficit to 28-14, Donald was reinserted back into the game. Brissett connected with Terry McLaurin for 16 yards and then 48 yards to the Rams 1.
Then Eric Bieniemy, for some baffling reason, called on the Commanders to run the ball twice consecutively up the middle at Donald. Both times they were unsuccessful for no gains. On third down, Logan Thomas clearly pushed off, allowing him to catch a touchdown pass that was rightly penalized.
After a pass interference penalty gifted the Commanders four more downs at the one, Bieniemy again called for a Chris Rodriguez run up the middle, and again it was stuffed. Two incomplete Brissett passes followed before Brissett found Curtis Samuel for a 3-yard touchdown.
Wouldn’t you know it, Camaron Cheeseman had another bad snap that Tress Way managed to get down, but it was blocked, leaving the final score at 28-20. As Washington’s onside attempt failed and though everyone in the stadium knew the Rams were going to run the ball, the Commanders defense could not prevent a Rams first down, permitting them to run out the clock.
