Who were the big winners and losers from an enthralling road win for the Washington Commanders against the Denver Broncos in Week 2?
Week 2 of the 2023 season for the Washington Commanders didn't start like we wanted to, but the excitement made for must-see TV through the game. The Denver Broncos came out hot, firing on all cylinders, taking advantage of the defense early and often in the first half.
The Commanders got down fast before finally scoring on their second possession. The Broncos' next two plays went for 60 yards and then 16.
Washington found themselves down 18 points early before going into halftime trailing by just seven. Another slow start for the Commanders wasn't what fans were expecting, especially being on the road in a hostile environment.
It was the Commanders' first win in Denver since 2001 and Ron Rivera's first triumph against the Broncos as a head coach. Washington had a big day by scoring 35 points for the first time since 2000, erasing an 18-point deficit, the most since 1990, and their first 2-0 start since 2011.
Rivera told the guys to stop waiting for someone to make a play go and be playmakers. The ball is in their court - wise words from Riverboat Ron.
This was a tale of two halves by the Commanders until the Russell Willson fumble sparked the Commanders rally. Now, after a comeback win, Washington will travel home to FedEx field to take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 - a game that will be another great test for Sam Howell and this offense.
With that being said, here are five winners and losers from Washington's unbelievable Week 2 success.
Winner No. 1
Sam Howell - Commanders QB
We finally got to see what an Eric Bieniemy offense looks like when it's on full display. Even though the offense started moving the ball but couldn't get it going until the next couple of series.
Sam Howell was sensational. The offensive line protected him for the most part throughout the game and only gave up four sacks.
Once Howell got comfortable, he moved around in the pocket, standing tall delivery strike after strike. The former fifth-round pick threw for two touchdowns, completing 27-of-39 passes for 299 yards in his first road game. It was one of the most convincing offensive displays from the Washington Commanders in a long time.
Howell threw his first touchdown to Logan Thomas, who later had to leave the game. Something that he didn't do in the first game against the Arizona Cardinals was attack down the field, and that was the game plan going into this one at Mile High Stadium.
He made a lot of high-level throws, especially a 30-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin to tie the game up in the third quarter. Instead, if the signal-caller was sacked or under pressure, Howell managed to pick himself and go to the next play.
The North Carolina product is the first Washington quarterback to win its first three starts since 1987, The Commanders would not have won this game without Howell's stellar play.
Loser No. 1
Camaron Cheeseman - Commanders LS
The Washington Commanders traded up to draft long-snapper Camaron Cheeseman in 2021. But now they are experiencing severe issues with the player's performance levels.
On the game's first drive, the Commanders were in the red zone for a field goal attempt. However, an ugly snap led to a missed field goal from Joey Slye, which was a wasted opportunity.
These bad snaps are causing Slye to look bad, which is the last thing he needs with his own job status under the microscope. Punter Tress Way said that Cheeseman was working on a new grip but apparently seems like it isn't working.
Many wonder what is actually going on with Cheeseman. If the same trend continues, head coach Ron Rivera has a big decision to make regarding his short and long-term future with the franchise.
Cheeseman unfortunately had issues all summer, too. Rivera did say last week that it is a concern more than anything else. But most likely, they are hoping that the player corrects it.
Twitter wasn't having it today and they let it be known. If it's not broken don't fix it, his snaps are sliding long and not getting to the correct spot effectively, so it's not hard to see where the problems are arising.
My guess is it's time to go back to what got you there the last couple of years. Otherwise, it could be a very short season for Cheeseman.
Winner No. 2
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
The question was how will the Washington Commanders' running game perform this week, after being somewhat non-existent last weekend against the Arizona Cardinals. In the second half of the game at the Denver Broncos, they finally got it going.
This is arguably the most essential part of Eric Bieniemy's offense. Brian Robinson Jr. put his name all over this running game in Week 2, carrying the ball 18 times for 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
His first score gave the Commanders a 28-24 lead at a crucial time. Robinson also had two catches for 42 yards in the passing game for good measure.
The former Alabama star runs with power and versatility. This is something were saw last year, but under Bieniemy's scheme, you get to see a more dynamic Robinson in his second professional campaign.
Robinson had an 11-yard run to set up a 30-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin from Sam Howell. He continued to deliver more in the second half, including a 27-yard catch and run en route to his first touchdown and then a 21-yard catch to cap off his second score.
The 2021 third-round selection said that he's not even close to his full potential, which is a scary thought. He was the only back to find success in Sunday's game, which brings his tally to three all-purpose touchdowns in two games.
Loser No. 2
Charles Leno Jr./Cody Barton - Commanders OT/LB
I couldn't separate these two, so they go together.
The offensive line still has some protection issues when it comes to the passing game. Charles Leno Jr. had it rough during this game as well as the last. He was called for a holding penalty on a Sam Howell run, but it didn't stop there.
Leno gave up multiple pressures that resulted in a sack. Unfortunately, things don't get easy for this offensive unit in the next couple of weeks, so any kinks in the armor must be resolved as a matter of urgency.
The Denver Broncos wanted to keep sending pressure Leno's way. But In the second half, he did settle down.
Despite giving up four sacks, the rest of the offensive unit played well. If Leno does continue to struggle, I wonder if Ron Rivera will make a change.
The weakest part of the Washington Commanders' defensive unit, many would say, is the linebacker group. This was once again on show to a certain extent in Week 2, with Cody Barton largely at fault.
Sometimes, Barton struggled, playing out of position and failing to stop the play sooner. At times, he would get caught trailing the space from behind. He is clearly learning a new system and is very slow to react on occasion.
Many players across the league are learning a new system, but it is evident Barton is finding life difficult up to now. However, there is still time for the free-agent signing to turn things around.
Winner No. 3
Commanders defense
The Washington Commanders' defense was ready to go in the second half. This was led by Daron Payne, who set the tone right out of the gate.
Payne had a sack on the Denver Broncos' first possession and followed that up with a tackle for a loss. The defense racked up seven sacks in Week 2 despite not applying much pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson in the first half, which led to some big plays.
Like last week against the Arizona Cardinals, the Commanders' defense made plays when needed. They did the same thing in Denver when Jamin Davis forced a fumble after sacking Wilson outside the pocket.
Another highlight of the game was the return of Chase Young, who missed Week 1. But it didn't take him long to make his presence felt.
Young's impact on the game was impressive, recording 1.5 sacks. Montez Sweat - his best friend and defensive end partner in crime, also added 1.5 to his increasing tally.
Even rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes got in on the act by recording his first interception of his professional career. The first-round pick made a spectacular play on the ball but slipped, which would been a house call if he had kept his balance.
The Commanders' defense would had its second interception, but Derrick Forrest dropped it. The defense played outstanding, by being relentless and attacking the line of scrimmage. Thanks to Benjamin St-Juste for making a play by breaking up Denver's two-point conversion after Wilson's hail-mary touchdown.
This Washington defense is coming together nicely. Now the real test comes next week against a high-powered Buffalo Bills offense.