Commanders Loss is a Pass Against the Jets

Coaches are going to evaluate players during the preseason but fans should evaluate the team overall. Will they be prepared for the first regular season game after only three preseason games?

Granted, it was the first quarter of the first preseason game but fans can can conclude that the coaching staff had this team prepared to play.

In today’s first preseason game against the New York Jets, the Washington Commanders moved quickly with discipline and without many mistakes in the first quarter. These are the little things, the basics, the details that this team has been lacking for some time.

It ended as a 20-17 loss by the Commanders but there were some encouraging signs.

The biggest highlight of the game for the Commanders was in the first offensive drive. In a Noon preseason game, it was prime time for first round Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, the second pick in the draft, throwing a long pass into the arms of covered wide receiver Dyami Brown who made a brilliant 42-yard reception to the Jets 24 yard line. Following some punishing runs by Brian Robinson Jr., and Austin Ekeler, Daniels faked a hand-off and easily ran into the end zone. Daniels ended his day with a 7-0 Commanders lead.

In the second quarter, New York Jets Brandon Allen ran over the Commanders defense. Then mistakes, mistackles and a Jets touchdown over Emmanuel Forbes Jr., tied the game at 7-7.

Forbes has been having difficulties with vertical routes and every wide receiver in the league knows it. But a standout play like the 44-yard pass from Jeff Driskel to second-round pick, rookie tight end Ben Sinnott, helped counter the disappointing Jets touchdown.

The quarterback to tight end combination, like Brady to Gronkowski and Mahomes to Kelce, has been delivering Super Bowl wins who have the talent to pull it off. Is Sinnott the next star tight end in the NFL? Only time will tell. But Driskel to Sinnott turned into a Ramiz Ahmed field goal. The Jets countered with another field goal and a 10-10 tie before halftime.

By the second half, any comparison to a regular season game is apples to oranges. It still highlighted preparation by the coaches. A few nice throws from Sam Hartman to Luke McCaffrey, Kazmeir Allen and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in the fourth quarter and a nice 14-yard run by Marcus Riley turned into a two-yard touchdown run by Riley for a 17-10 lead after Riley Patterson’s extra point.

Note that there’s little patience for journeyman place kickers in the preseason and a 39-yard field goal try by Patterson in the first half hit the goal post and bounced back. It’s one of the “hard knocks” of training camp but a kicking battle currently favors Ahmed–although both kickers are highly questionable with their recent poor showings in practice.

Cornerback James Pierre was burned by Jets receiver Brandon Smith on a 37 yard pass from Adrian Martinez and Pierre’s poor coverage is a strike against him. The play led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Israel Abanikanda for a 17-17 tie.

Martinez and Smith connected again later in the quarter for the Jets as the Commanders defensive backups gave up enough yards for a final 37-yard Jets field goal with 21 second left to clinch the game.

Still, the coaching staff, second round pick Jayden Daniels and veteran wide receiver Dyami Brown all receive A grades for that most important first quarter despite the game ending in a meaningless final score of 20-17.

Some questions were answered today but many more questions still remain. The next test for the Commanders team, both for players and coaches, is next Saturday, August 17, against the Dolphins in Miami.

Coaches will look for Emmanuel Forbes to improve his coverage skills on vertical routes and they’ll try to evaluate players in game play who can add depth to the roster, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. Coaches will also look for players who stand out by rising to the occasion with only two preseason games left to play and fans will look for consistency in preparation and play.

Yes, it was the first preseason game and the Commanders fell to the Jets in the end but it was a good start for a Commanders team as they begin their mission to reestablish the integrity and warrior-like spirit of a once proud Washington football franchise.