Instant reactions to the Commanders first win of the Carson Wentz era

In a wild, sometimes ugly, and sometimes awesome, football game the Washington Commanders emerged victorious in their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars at FedEx Field, 28-22.

At one point, the Commanders were up 14-3, and driving late in the first half, with the game fully in control. It wasn’t meant for Washington to comfortably win their inaugural game as the Commanders, as the Jaguars rattled off 22 straight points, the Commanders turned it over 3 times, Carson Wentz reverted to back to old habits, and the Commanders found themselves down 22-14 in the fourth.

Then, true to form, Wentz was simply awesome. He tossed two touchdown passes, showcasing his prized arm talent on both. He rifled a pass in between two defenders, on a Terry McLaurin touchdown reception. Later, with pressure in his face, he placed the ball perfectly into Jahan Dotson’s bread basket for the game-winner.

After an interception and one last first down, the Commanders were winners.  It wasn’t pretty but the Burgundy and Gold are 1-0 nonetheless. Here are some instant reactions to the season-opening victory.

Instant reactions to the Commanders’ season-opening win

Offense

The Good 

• Carson Wentz overall had more positive moments, than negative moments today. He showcased his strong arm, rifling passes in-between tight spots on multiple occasions. He looked like a starting NFL QB. He was 27/41 for 313 yards, 4 TDs, and 2 INTs, while also leading the team to go 7/10 on third downs and convert in the red zone. And most importantly, he responded positively to his rough stretch. After his second interception, Wentz was 8/11 with 130 yards and 2 TDs. He didn’t crumble late and never threw the costly third interception. He was crucial in Washington’s come-from-behind fourth quarter.

• The three starting wide receivers lived up to the preseason hype for the Commanders. Curtis Samuel showed why he is a ceiling raiser and a connector for the offense with his ability to create yards after the catch and as a runner. Terry McLaurin, after being quiet for three quarters, came through at the most important time with his 51-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 22-20. First-round rookie Jahan Dotson had three catches and two touchdowns. He may have had the most important play of the day too as he came down with the game-winning touchdown in the clutch. Washington hasn’t had a trio like those three since 2016 with DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garçon, and Jamison Crowder.
• Antonio Gibson took full advantage of his opportunity today. He was the team’s leading receiver (7 catches, 72 yards), he got tough yards, totaled 130 all-purpose yards, and did not fumble. Gibson still looks like a dynamic playmaker for Washington, even if his role as a runner might diminish when Brian Robinson returns.
• The offensive line, for the most part, was solid again today. Sam Cosmi got beat a few times against Travon Walker, but overall, that was a good matchup. Despite multiple moving pieces with Schweitzer and Norwell missing periods of the game, the Commanders largely kept Wentz clean and created running lanes for Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and Samuel.
• Logan Thomas wasn’t flashy but he showed the impact he will have on the team moving forward. On a 3rd & 10, down 22-20, Logan Thomas broke open over the middle for a crucial third down conversion. Thomas will be crucial for the team in those types of situations and in the red zone.

The Bad 

• Yes, Carson Wentz will be in both categories. For three quarters, Wentz looked like everything the Commanders were searching for. However, for three drives in the third and early in the fourth quarter, Wentz looked like the quarterback Jim Irsay saw in his nightmares. He rushed his throws, was inaccurate, late, and downright awful. His second interception was particularly alarming, as he threw right into harm’s way on a screen pass. Luckily though, he recovered, and he can improve after an exciting win rather than a heartbreaking loss.
• I know there are a lot of mouths to feed, but Terry McLaurin going three quarters with one catch shouldn’t become a trend.
• Building off of Carson Wentz’s crucial turnovers, Curtis Samuel’s fumble was untimely as well. Instead of going into the half up 17-3, or with a commanding 21-3 lead, they let the Jaguars hang around down 14-3. Against higher-quality opponents, the Commanders won’t be able to get away with that.