3 overreactions to Commanders’ Week 12 win over the Falcons

1. Carson Wentz will start again in 2022

The Commanders won again with Taylor Heinicke under center, but we get the feeling the clock is ticking on Heinicke’s time as the starter. Ron Rivera didn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement of Heinicke’s performance, and understandably so, as Heinicke was really reckless with the football at times.

It happened early in the game, but Heinicke uncorked a needless shuffle pass before getting sacked. The throw barely qualified as a forward pass, or else the Falcons would’ve had a walk-in defensive touchdown. Beyond that, Heinicke also missed Terry McLaurin in the corner of the end zone with Washington trailing 7-10.

Near the end of the first half, Heinicke threw a pass into triple coverage that had no pass of being completed, even though he was looking McLaurin’s way. On the play, Heinicke had Curtis Samuel and Antonio Gibson WIDE open on drag routes. Either player could’ve gotten the requisite yardage to get into field goal rage.

And finally, Heinicke was lucky not to be picked in the second half when he floated a pass toward the sideline. The football hit the ground, but Heinicke’s lack of arm strength was on full-display on this misfire.

Wentz makes that throw in his sleep with his howitzer of an arm. If Heinicke keeps being this careless with the football, we’ll see Wentz again in 2022, especially with two huge divisional games against the Giants on deck.