After a loss in Atlanta that left fans and critics wondering if there was something seriously wrong with both sides of the football, the Washington Commanders bounced back in a big way in week five, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 27-10.
It was the team’s most convincing win of the year, and as enjoyable as it was to watch live on Sunday, a review of the All-22 tape shows there are plenty of little things to be encouraged about going into Monday night’s nationally televised game against the Chicago Bears (a rematch of last year’s Hail Mary Miracle).
Marshon Lattimore and the secondary bounced back:
A week after getting burned repeatedly by the Falcons’ receivers, both Lattimore and Trey Amos turned in a solid performance.
Lattimore was matched up against Quentin Johnston for most of the game and limited him to just four receptions and 41 yards. Granted, the first-quarter collision between Lattimore and Quan Martin that resulted in a Keenan Allen 29-yard catch and run was unfortunate, but aside from that, Lattimore was able to keep his man in front of him without giving up too much of a cushion.
The kids are alright:
Mike Sainristil also stood out with some very physical tackling, at times looking more like Stone Cold Steve Austin than a second-year cornerback from Michigan. His goal-line interception was the turning point in the game, tipping it in favor of Washington for good. So far, there hasn’t been a sophomore slump for the youngster.
On the offensive side of the ball, second-year tight end Ben Sinnott still hasn’t had a breakout game, reception-wise, but is coming into his own as a run blocker. Sinnott, fellow tight end John Bates, and Zack Ertz all were instrumental in helping Bill Croskey-Merritt get outside the tackle box and pile up 111 yards on the ground.
The offensive line had a day:
Here was a big reason Merritt was able to wild, actually five big reasons (six if you count Trent Scott playing the extra tight end role). Across the board, the o-line pushed the Chargers’ defensive front back on a consistent basis. Tyler Biadasz had a crushing block in open space on Merritt’s first touchdown run, and Chris Paul graded out as Washington’s best pass-blocking lineman of the game. It wasn’t quite The Hogs of the 1980s, but it was close.
Bob Matthews is a 33 year veteran broadcast journalist, spending the last 29 years of his career in Virginia. Bob has covered both news and sports stories and for the last three seasons, the Washington Commanders. He looks forward to continuing to provide coverage to Sportsjourney.com both on the website and through his podcast, The Bob Matthews Show.
Leave a Reply