Commanders' red-zone efficiency
This is true for every team. Just ask the Los Angeles Chargers.
They had the ball inside the 25-yard line twice in the first quarter of their playoff game against the Houston Texans and came away with just six points. Jim Harbaugh'ss squad ended up losing 32-12.
Red zone production takes on added importance for the Washington Commanders on Saturday night. No matter how well the defense plays, the Detroit Lions will put up points. And they can do it in a hurry.
Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders moved the ball inside the 20 on six separate drives. In the final one, they were playing for a field goal, which won the game. On the other five, they had a mixed bag of results.
Two touchdowns. One field goal. And they turned the ball over on downs twice. That’s 20 points on six trips deep into the opponent's territory. It proved just enough to beat Tampa Bay. It will not be enough to beat Detroit.
The Commanders' inability to run could hurt them in these situations. Kliff Kingsbury and run game coordinator Anthony Lynn need to devise some strategies for increasing production near the goal line.
Commanders' in-game contingency plans
Speaking of the coaches, I want to publicly laud the job they did against Tampa Bay.
I had written prior to the game that the offensive line had to play better. For the most part, they did not. I had written that Marshon Lattimore had to keep Mike Evans in check. The wide receiver dominated in the first half. My third complication — the need to play a clean game — did prove correct, but I whiffed on two of my three.
That’s partly because of adjustments made by the coaching staff. Evans was not a factor in the second half. Washington’s defense began double-teaming him, shifting Lattimore’s responsibilities. It worked.
On offense, Kliff Kingsbury found creative ways to spread the ball to his playmakers. On one play, Jayden Daniels faked a shovel pass to Olamide Zaccheaus, then ended up throwing him a screen. When Tampa Bay began losing defensive backs in the second half, he dialed up more throws to Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown.
The Lions have the best coordinator tandem in the league in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. You know they will throw a lot at Washington on both sides of the ball. Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. will need to match their chess moves.