Instant reactions to the Commanders’ win over the Falcons

3. The quarterback play may be the downfall…. again.

Taylor Heinicke moves to be 5-1 as a starter this year. And it can be argued Washington is winning in spite of Heinicke’s performance. They simply have just found their formula to win. Heinicke started off efficiently, completing every pass on Washington’s opening touchdown drive.

After that though, he was inaccurate and attempting hazardous throws all day. He flipped one out to Brian Robinson that was an inch from being a fumble. He would later miss an open Terry McLaurin for a touchdown, and follow it up with a backbreaking interception preventing Washington from getting points before halftime.

He did just enough in the second half. On the backs of a vicious rushing attack, Heinicke found John Bates for a touchdown set up off the play-action fake. He came inches away from another interception earlier though earlier in the half.

Washington needed to stay ahead of the chains today to have any success on offense. A penalty, a negative run, or a sack all but doomed Washington all day. Heinicke deserves credit for limiting those mistakes, but he gave Washington little chance to succeed if they were operating from behind the chains today.

And they will have to operate from behind them later this season too. They won’t be perfect every time on first and second down. That is just a fact. Unfortunately for Washington though, Wentz hasn’t done anything to give him the keys back with Washington winning, and Howell is a rookie.

They have to keep the keys in Heinicke’s hands, and he also has the “Alex Smith” effect as a leader. He limits Washington incredibly though, just like his predecessor. And unfortunately, that may prevent Washington from going as far as they could go if they had baseline quarterback play later this year.

For now, though, the formula is successful. Whether it is successful to beat contending teams when the script doesn’t go as perfectly as it did in Philadelphia remains to be seen.