Brian Mitchell takes Commanders to task after blowout loss to Eagles
By Jerry Trotta
The Washington Commanders sit at 1-2 following their blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. For the second straight week, Ron Rivera’s side laid en egg in the first half. Only this time, the Eagles — unlike the Lions — stepped on their throat and didn’t allow any sliver of hope for a second half comeback.
There’s plenty of season left, but the defeat has fans both despondent and demoralized. After gaining playoff buzz following Week 1, there are suddenly serious questions about what Washington can accomplish, if anything, this season.
After all, if a team doesn’t come ready to play against a hated rival and supposed contender, what does that say about that team’s ceiling? It says the Commanders, if they keep playing like this, are headed for another losing season.
That would spell trouble for Rivera and the current regime, and franchise legend Brian Mitchell made mention of this on NBC Sports Washington’s postgame show. This clip is something every Commanders fans should watch after Sunday.
"We are predictable--offense, defense, we are predictable. If we don't change that, a lot of people are gonna be looking for jobs." -@BMitchliveNBCS pic.twitter.com/wsSftW1iKG
— NBC Sports Commanders (@NBCSCommanders) September 25, 2022
Brian Mitchell didn’t hold back after the Commanders’ blowout loss to the Eagles in Week 3.
Mitchell is never afraid to call it like it is and this clip was no different. The former Super Bowl champ started with Washington’s offense, which mustered 240 yards and didn’t score until an Antonio Gibson rushing touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Mitchell observed the difficult the Commanders have getting the ball to their best playmakers. While Curtis Samuel was involved early, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Logan Thomas might as well have not played the first half.
Speaking of McLaurin, his first reception in the last two games came in the third quarter. Again, this is a player the Commanders gave $71 million this offseason and he doesn’t have a first quarter reception through three games. Think about that.
Mitchell then transitioned to the defense, which had its moments Sunday, but was ultimately victimized by the big play. For context, they allowed three catches over 40 yards and one catch over 30 yards. Three of those went to DeVonta Smith, who terrorized Washington to the tune of eight catches for 169 yards and a TD.
Last week, Darrick Forrest said he felt like Detroit knew what Washington was doing defensively; like they were a step ahead. It sure looked like it on the field, no? Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown even came out after the win and said Washington struggled with bunch formations.
Amon-Ra St. Brown said the Lions knew all week the Commanders didn’t handle bunches well.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 18, 2022
He said he capitalized on busted coverage on his first TD
Neither quote got enough recognition, but it sure is a bad look for the coaching staff, which Mitchell believes could be “looking for jobs” after this season (or sooner?) if changes aren’t made and the Commanders don’t start winning.
What’s scary is these are just some of the laundry list of problems facing Washington right now. Mitchell didn’t even mention the offensive line, Scott Turner abandoning the run game against the Eagles, which had success early, and Carson Wentz forgetting how to play quarterback after a couple of early sacks.
Week 1 feels like a century ago, doesn’t it?
