Within the closing moments of one more Washington Commanders loss, the burgundy-and-gold No. 90 jersey that belonged to defensive finish Montez Sweat was someplace on the sector. Simply not on Sweat’s physique.
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Perspective | As the Commanders fade, the losing feels familiar — and inevitable
Six seconds nonetheless remained, a quick however sudden period of time officers positioned again on the clock after they concluded Tennessee Titans linebacker David Lengthy Jr. had been down on the 1-yard line following his game-sealing interception in opposition to Carson Wentz. And when the gamers had been referred to as again to the sector, Washington’s most harmful defensive finish stood on the sideline in his undershirt.
What an apropos scene for a wierd but acquainted Sunday afternoon at FedEx Subject. The Commanders’ 21-17 loss to the Titans had not but gone closing, nevertheless it certain felt over.
For these loyal sufficient to have caught with the franchise by means of its many controversies, the rotating door of beginning quarterbacks, the identify modifications and rebranding, Sunday’s end result ought to have woke up that October ache of dread. The 2022 Commanders haven’t even reached Week 6, so technically the season’s not over. However it certain feels prefer it.
Right here they go once more. All of the leaves haven’t fallen from the timber, and you’ll nonetheless stroll inside one or two espresso outlets lately and never be bombarded with pumpkin spice propaganda. And but right here in early October, hope for even a broadly vanilla season is fading — simply because it does each autumn for skilled soccer followers within the higher Washington space.
“We simply misplaced. I’m harm,” guard Saahdiq Charles mentioned.
“Robust, powerful, very irritating,” Wentz mentioned, who repeated the phrase “irritating” all through his postgame feedback.
However operating again J.D. McKissic, a veteran of those autumns in Washington, supplied one thing completely different. He has been on this locker room earlier than when early seasons have gave the impression to be misplaced, however he says this 12 months feels completely different.
“Really, prior to now, I might be in a hunch,” he mentioned. “However proper now, I simply understand how good we’re, and I do know we are able to put it collectively.”
No matter tonic of positivity McKissic should be sipping on, he ought to bottle it and promote it round Washington. As a result of at this level, a 9-8 file would could be thought-about a job effectively accomplished by Coach Ron Rivera and his mismatched roster.
After their fourth straight loss, the Commanders are tied with three different groups (the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers) for the worst file within the NFL. It took simply 5 weeks for Washington to sink to the underside. And since he’s three years into teaching this franchise and falling into bottomless pits, Rivera is aware of simply what to say.
“Up,” Rivera supplied rapidly for his first reply within the postgame information convention. “The one technique to go is up.”
If solely the Commanders may search for and see blue skies ready for them. As a substitute, within the cellar they occupy, there’s an inconsistent offense, a unit that may arouse the house crowd with simply one play — corresponding to the ten seconds it took for that lovely 75-yard connection from Wentz to Dyami Brown— but in addition frustrate the followers the remainder of the sport as a result of it may convert solely one third down.
And Washington has the right quarterback for its inconsistent offense.
Wentz just isn’t a metronome, and by now all of us notice what he can do. He will be very, excellent and launch bombs, as he did to Brown and Curtis Samuel. Then again, he will be very, very irritating, corresponding to when he fumbled a snap on third and eight as a result of he and the middle weren’t on the identical web page. Later, on one other third-down play, after Wentz’s move was tipped on the line, a faint chant of “Hein-ick-e! Hein-ick-e!” greeted the Commanders’ punt crew.
Backup Taylor Heinicke by no means took the sector, as a result of as Wentz tends to do, he bounced again and marched the offense 87 yards within the closing seconds. However on the Tennessee 2, with no timeouts, that potential game-winning — and season-resuscitating — drive ended when Wentz threw three passes off the mark. His closing one landed within the fingers of a linebacker, as a substitute of considered one of his receivers, and Wentz ended his day within the function of tackler.
Pondering the sport was over — and actually, it was — Wentz displayed the look of defeat. He tossed his helmet, then bent over and held his knees, remaining there whilst middle Nick Martin came visiting to pat his aspect. By that point, different Commanders had already begun the pleasant change of jerseys.
When the sport restarted, Washington needed to ship Casey Toohill onto the sector. Sweat thought he didn’t want his jersey anymore and had given it away to Titans defensive deal with Jeffery Simmons. The time remaining, it turned out, was solely a formality.
There’s nonetheless time remaining within the season. However that, too, looks like a mere formality to the inevitable.