Washington Football Team: Studs and duds from humbling Week 3 loss

The Washington Football Team dropped to 1-2 on the season after getting ran off the field by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

The 43-21 scoreline was embarrassing by itself, but it could’ve been a lot worse had Buffalo not taken its foot off the gas in the second half. For fans struggling to identify any positives from the game, we’re in the same boat.

The defense continued to prove that it was overhyped in the offseason. Aside from the occasional highlight, the offense was out-classed by the Bills defense. As for the coaching staff, well, they owe fans an apology, too.

It was an afternoon to forget for Washington, so let’s dive into some postgame therapy by highlighting the game’s best and worst performers.

Washington Football Team: Studs and duds from Week 3

Stud: Antonio Gibson

It doesn’t feel right starting off with a stud, because the entire game was a dud, but Antonio Gibson deserves his 15 minutes of fame. After all, Washington’s running back was arguably the only bright spot in the game.

Gibson didn’t find much success on the ground (12 carries for 31 yards) and dropped a sure touchdown near the goal line, but his 73-yard catch and run was one of the highlights from a dramatic Sunday in the NFL.

On the play, Gibson juked numerous defenders out of their shoes before outrunning the Bills’ secondary and diving into the end zone. It was an impressive scamper for an RB with a 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame. Very few backs in the league have Gibson’s blend of elusiveness and brute strength.

Dud: Chase Young

Well, this is awkward. This marks back-to-back weeks that Chase Young qualified as a dud, and you know what? That’s what he’s been through three games.

On Sunday, the star edge rusher registered just three tackles and one QB hit. He has yet to record a sack this season. We know Young doesn’t have to pad the stat sheet to make an impact, but that’s the thing; outside of a few flash plays, his presence has barely been felt when he’s been on the field and he’s played 89% of the snaps.

Perhaps Young is trying to do too much, but the former No. 2 overall pick better get things sorted out, because the defense will continue sinking if he doesn’t.

Dud: Taylor Heinicke

We might need to shower after this article, because talking negatively about Young and now Taylor Heinicke just feels dirty. Both are extremely likable players, but neither covered themselves in glory against the Bills.

As far as Heinicke is concerned, he broke the cardinal rule for quarterbacks: forcing throws into tight windows instead of trying to scramble, just taking a sack or throwing the ball away. Those mistakes resulted in two interceptions — ones that Heinicke will be kicking himself rewatching in the film room this week.

Heinicke wasn’t the reason Washington lost on Sunday, but he didn’t exactly look like a franchise quarterback in the game, either.

Stud: Dustin Hopkins

The narrative surrounding Dustin Hopkins has taken a 180 over the last two games. After nailing all three of his field goal attempts — including the game-winner — vs the Giants in Week 2, Hopkins, though he didn’t attempt any FGs on Sunday, drilled all three of his extra-points and recovered his own kickoff in one of the most bizarre highlights you’ll ever see.

This wasn’t a short kickoff, either. Hopkins put all of his strength into the boot, but the wind in Buffalo was so strong that the ball dropped near Buffalo’s 15-yard line. After a fortuitous bounce, Hopkins emerged from the pile with the pigskin.

It was a momentum shift for the ages, though it only lasted a few minutes. However, Hopkins deserves massive credit for his effort. If only his teammates reciprocated his energy and desire.

Dud: Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb

We wanted to include Washington’s entire linebacking corps here, but Jamin Davis made what looked to be a crucial stop on fourth down early in the game when Buffalo already had the wind in their sails. The first-round rookie logged six tackles (five solo) and simply needs to play more moving forward.

Now, to the bad. Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb were absolutely dreadful in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Holcomb conceded five receptions and two touchdowns (!) through the air.

Bostic, meanwhile, didn’t belong on the same field as Buffalo’s pass-catchers. The 30-year-old now has a 29.7 coverage grade from PFF through three games. Remind us again, why did Washington not put more emphasis on upgrading the LB position this offseason? That looks to be a massive error in judgment.

Stud: Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin qualifies as our last stud from the game, which speaks volumes given he didn’t have a huge impact. The star wideout managed just four receptions and 62 yards, but he deserves credit for making things happen in a game where Buffalo clearly planned to minimize his impact as much as possible.

McLaurin also made a gorgeous-looking tackle on one of Heinicke’s interceptions. Perhaps he should get some reps at LB.

Dud: Kendall Fuller

Throw Kendall Fuller into the mix of “star” players who fall into the dud category for the second week in a row. After Sterling Shepard stole his lunch money in Week 2, Fuller had zero answers for Josh Allen and Buffalo’s WR corps.

According to PFF, Fuller allowed eight receptions for 104 yards. That’s inexcusable for a player who’s supposed to be Washington’s No. 1 cornerback. He’s been a liability this season, and that’s putting it lightly. If you remember, Keenan Allen got the better of him in the Week 1 loss to the Chargers.

We’re not sure what’s going on with Fuller, but the memories of him being one of the most dominant slot CBs in the league are fading fast.

Dud: Jack Del Rio

We’ll keep this one short, because we’ve already highlighted how poor the defense was in Sunday’s defeat.

The bottom line is that Jack Del Rio’s seat is getting hotter with each passing week. The defense can’t get off the field on third down; there’s still far too many miscommunications in the secondary; and the vaunted pass rush has suddenly forgot how to get after the QB after it ranked sixth with 47 sacks a season ago.

Del Rio better find a solution — even a band-aid would suffice at this point — because he won’t be long for this job if the defense keeps this up.

Washington Football Team: Taylor Heinicke’s flaws exposed in Week 3 loss

The Washington Football Team's defense was the story from Sunday's loss to Buffalo, but Taylor Heinicke didn't cover himself in glory either.