10 quick thoughts from Week 17 as Washington is eliminated from playoff contention

It’s official, folks. After Sunday’s loss, the Washington Football Team will not be making an appearance in the playoffs.

Severely undermanned and down a host of key coaches, Washington came up short against the Philadelphia Eagles, who continue to do JUST enough to win games and keep their own playoff hopes alive.

It looked as though Taylor Heinicke was going to lead his fourth game-winning drive of the season, but John Bates tripped on an end zone target on the final possession and the pass sailed right into the arms of Rodney McLeod.

Ten thoughts won’t be enough to cover every inch of this game, but we did our best to touch on some of the major talking points.

Washington Football Team: 10 quick thoughts from Week 17

Why is Cam Sims not a focal point?: On the game’s opening drive, Taylor Heinicke connected with Cam Sims to move the chains on third down.

It was an eye-catching grab from Sims, who climbed the latter and had to shield the ball from an incoming safety to avoid a potential deflection. These acrobatic grabs have become routine for the fourth-year receiver.

He always seems to produce when he gets the chance, so why hasn’t he received more playing time? It’s one of this season’s greatest mysteries.

What an opening drive: Before you can blink, or even sit down for the game (!), Washington took a 7-0 lead. Was it the most impressive opening drive of the year for the offense? You’d be hard-pressed to find a better one.

Three passes for 50 yards and three runs for 17 yards capped off by a nifty 11-yard touchdown scamper by Jaret Patterson.

More of this in the future, please.

Not a good sign for the rookie: Washington came up with a huge fourth down stand inside their own territory on the Eagles’ first drive.

While the play deserves to be celebrated (Matt Ioannidis was especially influential in halting Jordan Howard’s momentum) it was hard not to notice that David Mayo was in over first-rounder Jamin Davis.

Not what you want from the No. 19 overall pick, who had no reported injuries throughout the week leading up to the game. Hard to argue against the idea that the Kentucky product was over-drafted by Ron Rivera and Co.

Careless job by announcers: This one’s not that important, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge it. In the first quarter alone, the crew on call for the game referred to Dyami Brown as “DeAndre” and Taylor Heinicke as “Tyler.”

We get announcers don’t have the easiest job, but the least we expect is them to get players’ names right.

Anything less is careless and disrespectful. Unfortunately, we can count on two hands how many times Heinicke’s been called “Tyler” this year.

Be better.

Backup RBs putting in the work: With no Antonio Gibson (COVID list) and JD McKissic (injured reserve), Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams were given all the work they could handle against the Eagles.

Clearly out to make a statement after he lost a fumble two weeks ago in Philadelphia, Patterson racked up 98 yards from scrimmage and the aforementioned TD. He hits holes a lot quicker than Gibson and his small frame works wonders in terms of squeaking by tacklers in the trenches.

Don’t be surprised if JP is back with Washington next year.

As for Williams, well, he clearly doesn’t have a future in Ashburn, but he commend how much fire he’s played with in his limited opportunities.

Scary scene in the red zone: Football became an afterthought for a few minutes in the second quarter after a scary-looking collision between Ricky Seals-Jones and a nearby cameraman on an incomplete pass.

Seals-Jones and the camera operator were both down for several minutes. While the latter was able to walk off the field under his own power, Washington’s tight end was carted off and subsequently ruled out with a neck injury.

These circumstances are always terrifying. All we can do is hope Washington offers a positive update on Seals-Jones.

Why so conservative?: By all accounts, it was an encouraging first half for Washington…until the final possession. The offense took over with over two minutes left and proceeded to call a run on five of the first six plays.

They gained less than 30 yards and left themselves 30 seconds on the clock before they even reached midfield.

That’s when Scott Turner finally decided to get aggressive and got bailed out by a 55-yard field goal courtesy of Joey Slye. It worked out in the end, but my goodness was that an atrocity of a two-minute drill.

On another note, Joey Slye, fresh off recovering from a hamstring injury, is making a strong case to be re-signed in the offseason. After this booming kick, he was a perfect 9-for-9 on kicks since joining the Burgundy and Gold.

Game-changing conversion: After taking all of the momentum heading into halftime, Washington’s defense allowed Philadelphia to travel 75 yards on 14 plays all the while taking over seven minutes off the clock.

The D blew multiple opportunities to get off the field, but none were bigger than a 3rd and 14 after a false start pushed the Eagles back. Given ample time in the pocket, Jalen Hurts connected with Greg Ward for 27 yards. A few plays later Boston Scott ran for a touchdown on fourth down to pull Philly within two points.

Washington entered the game ranked 31st in third-down defense, and those struggles were on full display in this one, allowing the Eagles to go two-for-two on that drive and 4-of-12 for the game

OL injuries taking a toll: It was always asking a lot for Washington’s ravaged offensive line to continue to outperform its talent level.

Well, without Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier and Sam Cosmi, the OL was a turnstile against the Eagles’ vaunted front seven. Pro Football Focus’ pressure stats aren’t out yet, but Heinicke was sacked three times for 29 yards and it felt like each one swung the momentum back in Philly’s favor.

You don’t even have to look at the numbers for validation. It felt like Heinicke was under duress on every one of his drop-backs.

Putrid fourth quarter play-calling: If you were displeased with the play-calling at the end of the first half, you were no doubt livid with Scott Turner’s late-game blueprint because it was a trainwreck.

From continuing to get cute on designed screens and jet sweeps — when the offensive line showed zero ability to hold blocks all game — and the fourth down out route to Dax Milne, of all people, Turner had a nightmare second half.

Milne dropped the pass, but he would’ve been short anyway. The Eagles were in man-to-man coverage and you call a play for your seventh-round pick that had one catch in each of the last three games?

What about Terry McLaurin, John Bates or Adam Humphries? Even Cam Sims would’ve made more sense than Milne.

Fittingly enough, the Eagles proceeded to march down the field to kick a field goal that ultimately proved to be the difference, as Washington was unable to find the end zone on their final possession of the game.

It was another gut-wrenching lost for Washington, but at least the team bolstered its draft position.

Not all doom and gloom.