Key plays from Washington Football Team’s 30-27 loss to Detroit
By Jonathan Eig
First half
After efficiently moving down the field on the opening drive, Everson Griffen blew up a reverse to J.D. McKissic. Second-and-2 became third-and-13, and the ensuing sack on Alex Smith forced a punt. WFT remains the only team that has yet to score on an opening drive in 2020.
On Detroit’s first drive, D’Andre Swift, getting his first professional start, gashed the WFT defensive front on two consecutive plays from long runs. The most disappointing thing is that both happened against five-man fronts. After giving up big yardage to a mediocre Giants rushing attack last week, WFT seems to have acknowledged that they are incapable of stopping the run. Even with Tim Settle on the line, they still had trouble shutting down Detroit.
One play later, Marvin Hall ran past WFT’s best defensive back Kendall Fuller for an easy 55-yard touchdown.
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After a very good Terry McLaurin sweep put Washington on Detroit’s 22, the first down run by Antonio Gibson yielded just two yards. This was representative of WFT’s running attack all game long. There simply were no lanes for Gibson. Detroit entered the game as the third-worst rushing defense in the league, and WFT was still unable to move the ball on the ground.
Early in the second quarter, confusion in the WFT secondary allowed Marvin Jones to run past Jimmy Moreland. Kendall Fuller, dropping into a safety position, was late to react, and the resulting easy touchdown made it 14-3. This came on a third-and-10. Throughout the half, WFT’s offense rarely capitalized on good down & distance situations, while WFT’s defense allowed Detroit to convert multiple big plays even on third and long.
Danny Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to give WFT excellent field position at midfield. It was a rare positive play from WFT’s return teams.
After converting a gutsy fourth-and-3, Alex Smith missed an open McKissic for a would-be touchdown.
Dustin Hopkins’ subsequent miss on a 43 yard field goal meant that the good kickoff return – which should have resulted in a touchdown, ended up yielding nothing.
Late in the half, again WFT moved the ball well between the 20s. With hopes of going into halftime down 14-10, or perhaps 14-6, WFT’s best player Terry McLaurin fumbled after catching a short pass over the middle. Detroit would turn that into three points and lead 17-3 at halftime.