5 Commanders reality checks for must-win Week 16 game at San Francisco
By Tim Payne
4. The Reality Is, if you’re gonna lose, you need to go down throwing your best pitch.
The Commanders are a power running and play-action offense. That’s what they do best, that’s what they have he personnel to pull off, especially at the quarterback and offensive line positions. Power running with Brian Robinson Jr. and play-action off of duo action to get your wide receivers 1-v-1 matchups and your quarterback some time to breathe and simple reads to make…that’s your bread and butter.
Scott Turner should lean on what this team does best and then sprinkle in the occasional jet sweep and counter/TE wham blocks off that duo run action to keep the defense honest. The first drive of the second half this last week against New York is the perfect example of the kind of passing attack this team should be employing. And the running game on display for the first few plays of the first few drives of the game should be what they stick to, rather than outthinking themselves and getting cute with play-calling.
This team needs to assert their identity on all three of the final games of the season. And if they don’t make the playoffs, at least they’ll know they went down having put their best foot forward, as opposed to trying to be something they aren’t in the name of creativity or tendency break.