Washington Football Team: Studs and duds from Week 5 debacle

The Washington Football Team turned in their most disappointing performance of the season in a 33-22 loss at home to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

From a defensive perspective, it was much of the same, though the group did induce two first half turnovers. Aside from that, they continued to be plagued by the big play. Among the lowlights were a 72-yard bomb from Jameis Winston to Deonte Harris and the easiest Hail Mary completion you’ll ever see to end the first half.

Seriously, Washington wasn’t even prepared for the Hail Mary. Half of the secondary wasn’t in position to make a play on the ball to begin with and those that were put forth a half-hearted effort (some didn’t even jump!) to break it up.

There wasn’t much to like from the offense, either, but let’s not spoil everything in the appetizer. As we do each week regardless of the outcome, let’s highlight the best and worst performers from Sunday’s debacle.

Washington Football Team: Studs and duds from Week 5

Stud: Entire defensive line

In what was another forgettable performance from Washington’s secondary, the big fellas up front came to play. Daron Payne recorded a sack and recovered a fumble that was forced by Chase Young, who picked up his first sack of the year. That was a sight for sore eyes. More of that please!

Credit to Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis, too. They cleared the way for Payne’s aforementioned takedown of Jameis Winston. Ioannidis got initial pressure to collapse the pocket and Allen set a perfectly-executed pick for Payne, who looped around and got a free hit on the Saints quarterback.

Allen and Ioannidis each finished with three QB hits.

Dud: William Jackson III

We called for William Jackson to step up this week amid his ongoing slump, and he responded with yet another maddening performance. His miscommunication with Landon Collins on Deonte Harris’ 72-yard touchdown was eerily reminiscent of Cordarrelle Patterson’s deep touchdown from Week 4. The only difference? Jackson was expecting help over the top from Bobby McCain on that play.

Jackson was honestly lucky to survive the first half, as he laid a vicious hit on a defenseless Taysom Hill. The NFL should be embarrassed that Jackson wasn’t ejected, as Jackson took three steps and lowered his shoulder right into Hill’s helmet. The Saints gadget specialist was down on the field for several minutes before he was able to get on the cart under his own power. He was ruled out with a concussion.

It was another disaster performance from Jackson, who was also nowhere to be found on the Saints’ Hail Mary to end the first half. The 28-year-old is quickly proving unworthy of the three-year, $42 million deal he signed in the offseason.