How good are the Commanders? They keep winning, but questions remain

The Washington Commanders have carried out what they wanted to currently. They gave up massive performs, but in addition made them on the proper time. They sputtered on offense, till they wanted an enormous drive.

Extra importantly, they’ve additionally carried out this: win video games, aesthetics be damned.

But the query stays as they enter a troublesome stretch: How good are they?

They’ve gained three consecutive video games by a mixed eight factors. They’re simply as near being 2-6 as they’re to being 5-3. A number of yards have made the distinction.

Nonetheless, they’re 4-4 and have a shot on the third wild-card spot. After all, 9 groups are both 4-4 or 3-5 within the NFC, so all these groups have a shot as nicely.

Washington has but to beat a workforce with a successful document — both on the time or at present. Of their last 9 video games, solely two groups — Houston and Cleveland — have a dropping document. Everybody else is at .500 or higher. They’ve 4 video games remaining within the NFC East, all of a sudden the very best division within the NFL as the opposite three groups have a mixed 19-4 document.

The Commanders have gained video games versus lesser groups — albeit two of them on the highway — whereas looking for the consistency wanted to beat the higher ones. Contemplating they play the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox) and the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles within the subsequent two weeks, they want that consistency instantly.

“Oh completely. And we’ll need to match these guys,” Washington coach Ron Rivera mentioned of the upcoming challenges. “That is one of many issues that we’ll discover out is can we match a workforce like that? Can we stand toe to toe? That’ll be an fascinating factor to look at.”

That’s one cause Rivera appeared annoyed at instances in his postgame information convention after a last-second 17-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. He noticed some massive performs happen as a result of defenders obtained themselves out of place.

“I simply assume at this level, on the halfway level of the season,” Rivera mentioned, “you want to assume that we’ll do what we’re requested.

“We are able to feed off of the power [of the streak]. However the reality is towards different opponents, you’ll be able to’t always miss the alternatives, and like I mentioned, you must do what it’s best to do, what you are presupposed to do.”

There’s a yeah-but response for optimistic tendencies.

Yeah, their protection has performed nicely: Within the final six weeks, Washington ranks fifth in yards per recreation, third downs and speeding yards per carry allowed. The Commanders are seventh in purple zone protection and eighth in factors allowed throughout this stretch. Tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have performed nicely — their 19 mixed tackles for a loss are probably the most for any defensive position tandem within the NFL.

However their final 4 video games have come towards groups ranked twenty second or decrease in scoring offense. Even realizing the protection saved the workforce shut in losses to Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys, it is honest to marvel not in the event that they’re good, however, somewhat, how good?

“I wouldn’t say ‘proper the place we need to be,’ however we’re undoubtedly getting nearer to the place we need to be,” Allen mentioned. “We nonetheless need to make some enhancements on consistency, not giving up low cost stuff.”

Washington has allowed 35 performs of 20 yards or extra, sixth most within the NFL. Through the streak, that rating hasn’t modified a lot because the Commanders are eighth with 12 such performs. However within the final three video games, they rank tied for second with solely two touchdowns allowed within the purple zone and have prompted two turnovers.

“We’ve nonetheless obtained issues to work on,” Washington security Bobby McCain mentioned. “In case you simply do your job, it’ll all play out.”

Yeah, the offense has rallied the previous two video games, each began by backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke for the injured Carson Wentz. Heinicke led the fourth-quarter comeback Sunday. He additionally led three consecutive scoring drives within the second half towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers the earlier week. Heinicke lacks dimension and an enormous arm, however he sparks the workforce together with his energized play and well timed throws.

And operating again Antonio Gibson, doubling as a kick returner, has changed into an all-around menace with a mixed 272 all-purpose yards the previous two video games. Receiver Terry McLaurin has been an even bigger menace, with 11 catches on 17 targets the previous two video games — with key catches up to now two wins.

However, in the course of the streak, Washington ranks twentieth or decrease in yards per recreation, factors, yards per carry and third downs.

Then once more, they maintain successful which, finally, is the purpose.

“It is the intangible issues that basically maintain this workforce collectively,” Heinicke mentioned. “Plenty of the wins aren’t fairly, nevertheless it’s a win, nonetheless. We’re only a bunch of men on the market working arduous and attempting to play our greatest ball, and we do not hand over on one another. I like this workforce. It is my favourite workforce I have been on, favourite locker room I have been with, and I can not say sufficient good issues about all the blokes in there.”

They’re successful regardless of not taking part in their finest and must be getting key gamers again quickly. Defensive finish Chase Younger, who’s recovering from a knee harm, practiced Wednesday for the primary time in virtually a 12 months and will play towards the Eagles.

They’ve gained with out rookie receiver Jahan Dotson, who caught 4 landing passes in his first 4 video games however hasn’t performed since due to a left hamstring harm. It’s unsure when he’ll return after re-aggravating it in observe two weeks in the past.

And so they want the particular groups to maintain masking because it has: They rank third in internet punts and second in opposing kick return yardage.

Nonetheless, Washington is aware of it should enhance. The Commanders’ offensive line has been an excessive amount of in flux due to accidents — proper sort out Sam Cosmi stays sidelined with a left hand harm; 4 gamers have began at middle; three at proper guard — and that’s led to inconsistencies within the run recreation and go safety.

Additionally they know they will’t permit a repeat of what occurred of their final loss, after they drove to the Tennessee 2-yard line late within the recreation however didn’t convert in a 21-17 defeat. That recreation stays burned in some minds.

However after Sunday’s win in Indy, whereas the gamers celebrated, in addition they know extra might be anticipated in coming weeks.

“We’re glad we gained,” Allen mentioned Sunday. “It’s about successful nevertheless it’s additionally about the way you win. We made this recreation rather a lot more durable on ourselves, and there’s a number of issues that we’re going to wish to enhance on if we need to get to the locations we need to get to.”