Key numbers from the Commanders’ thrilling Week 1 victory

The Lows: Defensive issues continue to linger for Washington

0: Outside of the four touchdown drives (not including the short series before the end of the half and end of the game), Washington only managed 26 plays for 100 yards and 0 points. Those six drives ended as follows: Punt, Fumble, Punt, Punt, Interception, Interception. That’s not a good way to end the 1st half and kick off the 2nd half of any game.

9: The Commanders allowed Jacksonville to go on a 7-play 60-yard drive and a 6-play 80-yard drive to its opening drive of each half, leading to 9 points. That’s something that will need to be corrected to win games against better teams.

-2: Washington had a –2 turnover differential in Week 1, with Curtis Samuel losing a fumble late in the first half with the Commanders having an opportunity to put the game away. Then, in the second half, Wentz threw interceptions on back-to-back plays, which played a huge part in the Jaguars’ run of 19 unanswered points.

7: This is an unofficial calculation but there were at least seven passes where Wentz missed his receiver high that left points on the board. He had missed a wide-open Dotson and Logan Thomas.

26: Kendall Fuller did not have a great game. He had back-to-back penalties in the 2nd quarter that gave Jacksonville 26 yards, two first downs, and wiped out a Jamin Davis sack. He also gave up a 49-yard reception to Christian Kirk.

8: After struggling with giving up big plays last year, the trend continued for the Commanders in Week 1. Washington allowed Jacksonville to have 5 rushes over 10 yards and 3 pass plays over 20 yards in the game for 8 big plays.

9: For over 50 minutes, Terry McLaurin only had three targets and one catch for nine yards. That’s less than one target per quarter. That’s unacceptable! You need to force the ball to your best player because he will make things happen. With 9:36 left in the game, he did just that, hauling in a 49-yard touchdown reception to bring Washington within two.

Washington fans left FedEx Field with something they haven’t felt in so long…hope. Hope that this team is ready to turn it around. Let’s see if the team can continue its hot start against Detroit next week.