Talk Commanders

For the Burgundy and Gold it is squarely time to go to the whip for the stretch run. The bye week came late in the season. This is a team that surely could have used a break earlier. But, the upside is that it gave the team a chance to reset just in time for the last four games. Of those four games three appear to be very winnable. It’s nearly impossible to avoid doing math: 2 wins equals 10 for the season; 3 wins equals 11 for the season. Since 1978 only 20 teams have failed to make the playoffs with 10 wins. Only 2 failed to get to the dance with 11 wins. But, first things first: A win gives this team a winning season for the first time since 2016. In August such a thing seemed like a bridge too far.

The WFT has arrived at the bye week. Finally. This is the last week for byes throughout the League. It arrived not a moment too soon for the squad. Thirteen weeks of bruising and bashing takes its toll on the body. One of the inherent elements of the sport is that the recovery time between games takes longer as the season evolves. It doesn’t help that the weather turns to cold making the ground harder so the bruises are deeper. There are more games now to play than ever. When Philadelphia won the NFL Championship in 1960 it played 13 games total. Other than the top team in each conference it takes 21 games to win the title these days. It all coalesces against the athletes. A break is most welcomed. It affords the fanbase an opportunity to survey the landscape and appreciate how special this year really is.

Watching Washington’s “Bell Cow” Running Back, Brian Robinson getting injured on the first offensive play of the game last week felt ominous. Realizing that Dallas had won all of its games on the road gave reason for pause. Having their star Defensive End and their best Corner back from injury was a source of concern. And, then their backup QB finally had enough repetitions to be comfortable…that was disquieting. It was never going to be a comfortable affair despite the point spread. So, it ended up being a miserable ride. Football gives the participants 24-hours to bask in the glow of a win or seep in their own bile after a loss. After that, it’s on to take the next hill. Thankfully, that next hill is at hand.

After a miraculous 86 yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin with 0:33 left on the clock made the score 27-26, and the PAT was all that was remaining to tie the game — and most likely push the game to overtime. The extra-point that would have tied the game for the Washington Commanders was wide left. It wasn’t meant to be, and placekicker Austin Seibert made no excuses after the game including the hip injury that had sidelined him for the prior two games.

Be honest: Before the season did you think, even for a moment, that on Week #12 the WFT would be the playoff-eligible squad versus a suffering Dallas team? It’s OK to say, “No way.” That’s how unpredictable the juxtaposition has been. Last season the Cowboys rode a wave of home victories to a 12-5 record. That matched the 12-5 record the year before…which matched the 12-5 record the year before that. Every home game in 2023 was a victory. That is, until the playoffs. Green Bay came into town and destroyed the silver and blue. Dallas got some late points to make the score look more respectable. But, they got boat raced. How bad has the Dallas season been? They misspelled legendary coach Tom Landry‘s name on the video board during a salute to his military service.

Fast forward to now and the team has not won a single home game. Whatever poison was let loose on the team in that playoff game has not been metabolized. The same scenario has played out time and again: The opposition goes up big early. Then Dak Prescott would get hot late to make the score respectable. Then Dak suffered a season-ending injury. Without him Dallas has not been able to make the final score less unsavory. On the other hand Washington has flushed the stench of the previous owner. The reinvigorated team has done quite well all things considered. Who would have thunk it?

The late Washington sports radio personality Ken Beatrice was fond of saying, “More NFL games are lost than won.” This past Sunday only reiterated the point. Washington had every chance to win that game. But, they failed to do so. The drops were horrifying. Perhaps the biggest was when Jayden Daniels threw from the End Zone hitting normally reliable Zack Ertz in stride and in the hands out near the 20-yard line with room to run. This coming after the Defense manufactured a fumble from Pittsburgh on the way in for a score. That drop kept Washington backed up allowing the Steelers to continue applying pressure. There were others. And, there were other mistakes aplenty. Still, the game was there to take. Alas. Time to laser focus on Philadelphia on Thursday Night.