Commanders studs and duds: Taylor Heinicke legend continues in Week 8 win

What more can you say? Just when you think a mind-numbing Taylor Heinicke interception cost the Washington Commanders a must-have game, the underdog quarterback leads another improbable fourth-quarter comeback.

Of course, his-game winning touchdown run doesn’t happen if not for Terry McLaurin, who hauled in a catch-of-the-year candidate in the NFL this season on a Heinicke prayer that set Washington up with a 1st and goal. One of the game’s best receivers in contested catch situations, McLaurin out-jumped and out-muscled Stephon Gilmore, a former Defensive Player of the Year, to make the grab.

Just incredible. Another chapter is added to the Heinicke legend. And more importantly, the Commanders claw their way back to .500 and are now entrenched in the playoff picture in a jumbled NFC.

While Heinicke and McLaurin spearheaded the comeback win on the final drive, plenty of other Commanders contributed to the victory, so let’s highlight some studs and duds from Sunday’s pulsating victory in Indianapolis.

Commanders studs and duds from Week 8 win vs the Colts

Stud: Antonio Gibson

The Antonio Gibson redemption tour continues! Just three weeks ago the coaching staff seemingly forgot Gibson was still on the team. Now, he’s back where he belongs as one of the offense’s most important weapons. Perhaps the Colts didn’t do enough film study this week because Gibson was open all game as Taylor Heinicke’s check down and the two connected for the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter.

That marks two straight games that Gibson’s scored the Commanders’ first touchdown. Doesn’t get much better than that. And to think teams around the NFL called Washington about trading for him. He’s not going anywhere!

Stud: Jonathan Allen

Late in the second quarter, Washington’s defense was on the ropes, allowing chunk yards on multiple running plays after Jonathan Taylor (ankle) reentered the game. Enter Allen, who went beast mode once Indy stepped foot in the red zone, blowing up a running play for a four-yard loss before sacking Sam Ehlinger, who fumbled on the play for a game-changing turnover.

Allen’s stats are down relative to his Pro Bowl season last year, but he’s arguably making a bigger impact week-to-week in 2022, if that makes any sense.

Dud: No urgency before halftime

The Commanders’ end-of-half game/clock management has been confounding all season and it continued into Week 8.

In retrospect, we’re fine with not wanting to give Aaron Rodgers the ball back with time on the clock, but the fact Washington went conservative in its two-minute drill with Sam Ehlinger on the opposing sideline was infuriating.

Playing with a lead and against a limited quarterback, the coaching staff likely didn’t want to take any unnecessary/momentum-shifting risks before halftime. We’d list those reasons as why Rivera and Co. should’ve been smelling blood in the water.

Just once this season we’d like to see some urgency to score before halftime, but we’re not holding our breath. Peyton Manning was at Lucas Oil Stadium and was spotted on the Colts sideline, but he wasn’t in uniform!

Stud: Darrick Forrest

It’s crazy what a year can do for a player’s outlook. This time last season, Forrest looked like a wasted draft pick. Through eight games of 2022, however, he’s established himself as a building block on the Commanders’ defense.

He’s still learning on the job, but his penchant for making game-changing plays is rare and he delivered big time on Sunday with a forced fumble on Jonathan Taylor with the Colts positioned to reclaim the lead with a field goal.

Dud: Dan Snyder

No explanation is ever needed, but FOX cameras caught Snyder in his suite at Lucas Oil Stadium. Nobody ever wants to see that, though the shot did prelude the broadcast discussing Jim Irsay’s explosive attack on Washington’s owner.

Anyone else nearly regurgitate their lunch after this scene? Yuck.

Stud: Kam Curl

With Cole Holcomb ruled out, Curl was assigned the green dot as Washington’s defensive play-caller and was rock-solid as per.

The third-year pro entered Sunday as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety and he’ll likely retain that mantle after Week 8. Like always, Curl’s impact flew under the radar but his first notable play was a BIG one as he laid a pile-driver hit on Michael Pittman to keep the Colts’ receiver short of the marker.

Washington needs to extend Curl’s contract in the offseason.

Dud: 4th Down play calling

Folks, what on earth was this?

It’d be silly (and hypocritical) of us to criticize the decision to go for a 4th and 1 near midfield after we took issue with the lack of urgency before halftime, but this is the absolute worst formation to draw up in this scenario. At least run a RPO. The offense needed one yard and Brian Robinson started nearly eight yards behind the line of scrimmage and was swarmed without a chance to get the first.

The Colts kicked a field goal after taking over on downs. Bad all around.

Stud(s): Bobby McCain, Jamin Davis

It was Davis’ “blunder” on a wheel route to Nyheim Hines that set the Colts up with a first and goal, but the second-year linebacker did superbly to rectify his mistake by stuffing Jonathan Taylor short of the goal line on 3rd and goal.

Of course, that doesn’t happen if not for Bobby McCain, who made a touchdown-saving tackle on Michael Pittman a play earlier. It was ruled a touchdown in real time but was overturned upon further review, which set the stage for Davis’ signature moment.

Stud(s): Taylor Heinicke/Terry McLaurin

Save the best for last, right?

Heinicke was oh, so close to receiving a dud for this performance, but leading an 89-yard drive down by six with just over two minutes left in regulation washes away all of Heinicke’s previous shortcomings, including the fourth quarter interception that seemed to have put the nail Washington’s coffin.

Always composed in crunch time, Heinicke was flawless on the final drive, connecting on a 4th down and 6 to Curtis Samuel before hitting Cam Sims for a big gain over the middle that really took some of the pressure off. Those big-time throws preluded the heave to McLaurin, who Randy Moss’d one of the best cornerbacks of his generation.

Sunday marked McLaurin’s first game back in Indianapolis, his hometown, since he was drafted. There was only going to be one winner on that jump ball.

What an absolutely incredible ending to a dull football game. The Commanders are back in business, and they (largely) have Heinicke to thank for it.

Time for the QB to add a pair of blue and white Jordans to his collection!