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Mistakes and missed opportunities.
The Washington Commanders (7-3) will see this when they look at the game tape on Monday morning.
The Commanders blew a 13-point second-half lead, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes as the Steelers snapped Washington’s three-game winning streak 28-27 before a sellout crowd at Northwest Stadium.
“It stings, and you see that the guys are very passionate about wins and losses, and it means something to them,” quarterback Jayden Daniels said after the game. “It matters. So that’s what I kind of took away. Like ‘hey, everybody is mad. It matters to them, and no one can do anything about it.’ Just go on to the next.”
Pittsburgh took the early lead when Russell Wilson hit George Pickens on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Defensive back Noah Igbinoghene covered Pickens well, but Pickens adjusted mid-air to make the catch.
Pittsburgh tried to land an early body blow on its next possession, calling a fake punt on its own 15 yard-line. Up-back Miles Killebrew under-threw a wide-open James Pierre to give the ball to Washington on a short field.
Three plays later, Austin Eckler scored from the one-yard line to tie the score at 7.
Washington gave that break back in the second quarter when Olamide Zaccheaus muffed his second punt of the day. He recovered the first but wasn’t as lucky the second time. Five plays later, Wilson threw touchdown number two of the day, this time to tight end Pat Freirmuth to regain the lead at 14-7.
In past seasons, Washington might have unraveled. This time, the offense scored 17 unanswered points. It started with a 40-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez (playing for injured Austin Seibert) and ended with touchdowns from Austin Eckler and Jeremy McNichols to give Washington a 24-14 lead early in the 3rd quarter. Daniels finished the day completing 17 of 34 passes for 202 yards.
The Steelers immediately cut the lead to 6 on a Najee Harris one-yard touchdown run and it appeared the Commanders would lead on its defense to win the game.
Trailing 27-21, safety Frankie Luvu intercepted Wilson on a long pass intended for George Pickens. On its next offensive series, the Steelers appeared to be on the way to taking the lead when safety Quann Martin forced running back Jaylen Warren to fumble on the one-yard line, giving Washington the ball back.
However, Pittsburgh forced a three-and-out series from Washington and got the ball back for the game-winning drive.
6 plays later, Russell Wilson hit newly acquired Mike Evans, who blew past defensive back Benjamin St-Juste to make the score 28-27.
“It’s one of [Pittsburgh Steelers QB] Russ [Wilson]’s great parts of what he can do,” head coach Dan Quinn said. “Really good throw and catch, and if you have to battle and compete to go, that’s ball. So just another example of fighting to fight through a good pass and catch. You gotta turn back into it, but nothing that was
unusual about the call or any of that.”
Washington had a chance at a potential game-winning field goal but critical 4th down play to keep the drive alive, tight end Zach Ertz was ruled to have been down short of the first down marker.
An offside call on defensive tackle Johnny Newtown on 4th down with one minute left on the clock sealed the win for the Steelers.
We have so much belief and love for this guy and so it was a hard mistake,” Quinn said. It was one to learn from and as it goes, those are hard ones. Like I said, there’s other plays in the game that come up, that one just happened to showcase it more at the end, and for sure this is the type of player that is hurting from it and you’re gonna learn from it.”
There isn’t much time to dwell on the loss, Washington goes to Philadelphia to play the Eagles on Thursday night in Philadelphia. The winner will be in first place in the NFC East and everyone in the Commanders locker room knows how important the week 11 game will be. Tackle Sam Cosmi addressed the team after the loss and told his teammates to flush this loss quickly.
“I wanted them to know that to not let this snowball effect into next week,” Cosmi said. “I wanted them to know what we have here is still special. Like no matter what, we still keep fighting. I want them to know this should hurt. This should hurt your core. This means a lot to us. Winning is the ultimate goal. And like I know from past, this means a lot, not only to me, but to everybody. So just to keep their heads up and keep fighting, and let’s get ready to beat Philly.”
Post Game Notes:
Zane Gonzalez, filling in for injured kicker Austin Seibert was perfect on extra points and was 2 for 2 on field goals.
Zach Ertz passed Greg Olsen (742) for No. 6 all-time in NFL history for receptions by a tight
end.
Running back Austin Eckler scored in back to back games for the first time since week 9 of the 2023 season.
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