3 takeaways from the Commanders comeback victory over the Colts

The Washington Commanders absolutely stole one from the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Down 16-7 with 11:12 remaining, having not sustained an offensive drive in three quarters, the Commanders seemed dead in the water.

However, they managed to string together a few first downs en route to a field goal, stop Sam Ehlinger just short of a first down, and then get the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining.

Washington snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and they extend their win streak to three in a row. As of today, the Commanders are in a tie for the last wild card spot with the San Francisco 49ers. A team that looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL just three weeks ago, has suddenly rejuvenated their season and finds themselves right in the mix for a playoff spot.

As the Commanders enter a key two-game stretch against the NFC’s best, the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, here are three key takeaways going forward for the Commanders.

3 takeaways from the Commanders’ come-from-behind win in Indy

3. The defense is starting to come into its own

Coming off of a disappointing 2021 campaign, some off-the-field comments (and tweets), as well as a slow start to 2022, Jack Del Rio’s seat may have been getting warm. That seat should be cooling off now for sure, as Washington’s defense has been heating up for well over a month now, and has been a catalyst for the three-game winning streak.

Players are beginning to settle into their roles. Kam Curl is a massive stabilizer in the secondary and the defense has been totally different since he returned to the lineup in Week 3. McCain fills in nicely at the other safety spot, Benjamin St-Juste is staying healthy and improving, Kendall Fuller is playing more instinctively, and Rachad Wildgoose has been serviceable in the slot. Even Darrick Forrest has formed a solid role as a buffalo nickel and forced a huge fumble today on Jonathan Taylor.

The defensive front has been lights out for the Commanders all year. They are tops in the league in pressure rate and are solid against the run. Despite Indy instituting a quick passing game for Sam Ehlinger, Washington totaled a sack and 6 QB hits.

At linebacker, Jamin Davis had one of the biggest plays of his career today. With the Commanders up late 7-6 late in the third quarter, with the Colts in a goal-to-go situation at the 1, Davis stuffed Jonathan Taylor in the backfield for a loss forcing the Colts to kick the field goal.

That is on the heels of Davis slowly improving in year two, and utilizing his speed to his advantage. Against the run this year, he doesn’t look like a ghost in headlights anymore, and he has become serviceable in that regard. Filling in the place of Cole Holcomb, the combination of David Mayo and Jon Bostic filled in well.

Heading into today, the Commanders ranked 13th in EPA/play. They were top five in the league in defensive pass-rush success rate, and top ten in the league in success rate against the run. Today’s performance will certainly help that, as they kept the Commanders in the game while the offense was sputtering.

A stingy defense is what will be needed for the Commanders to snatch a playoff bid.

2. Taylor Heinicke is muddying the QB situation

Taylor Heinicke is an enigma, and one of the wildest rollercoasters rides across the NFL. He is easy to root for, is an expert in Scott Turner’s playbook, and gives 110% all the time. And most of all, he is never fazed by a mistake, a bad stretch, or pressure. He has straight ice water in his veins.

That doesn’t make it so his physical limitations should be ignored. His height is less than ideal, and his (lack of) arm talent can severely limit the offense. Yet his ability to extend plays has been a great help compared to the plodding Carson Wentz that led to sacks.

In some ways, Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke are in a dead-even for the net value they provide the team. They each excel at things the other struggles with, and neither is most likely the long-term answer.

Put simply though, Taylor Heinicke may be on the fast track to keeping Wentz sidelined even when he is healthy. He has moxie and charisma making the team believe they can win any time they set foot on the field with 4 at QB. And that matters. And his rapport with Terry McLaurin is in a far better place than McLaurin’s is with Wentz.

The team believes in Heincke. He is adding another chapter to his inspiring story and clearly has some sort of magic. And with that, it is making the Carson Wentz trade go up in flames before the halfway point of the season.

1. Terry McLaurin is different

There have been few players in the Dan Snyder era that could be described as “different.” Someone that sets himself apart from the rest and is clearly one of the best at his job in the entire league. Terry McLaurin fits that bill. McLaurin had 6 catches for 113 yards on the day in his return home to Indy.

None other were bigger than his final catch where he snatched the ball away from Stephon Gilmore at the 1-yard line, to set the Commanders up in prime business to win the football game. A play later, Taylor Heinicke snuck it in for the game-winning touchdown.

Today showed why the Commanders inked McLaurin to the 3-year, $71M extension in July. He is a difference maker for the team, and flat out may be the team’s best player. McLaurin totaled 8 targets on the day for the second week in a row, just one shy of his season-high in Week 3 against the Eagles.

Many of those targets against the Eagles came in garbage time though, so this is the most consistent target 17 has received all year. On a few occasions, one would like to see McLaurin’s targets creep up over double digits. Because he is simply that good. He has ranked top-five amongst all wide receivers at beating man coverage, according to Reception Perception.

Terry McLaurin is consistently open and has started to win after the catch too while continuing to be one of the best in the NFL in contested catch situations. Terry McLaurin is a complete player and should be the focal point of the Commanders’ offense on a weekly basis.

Despite having no consistency from the person he is receiving the passes from, McLaurin continues to produce at a high level. He is one of the most uncoverable players in the entire NFL.