Commanders defeat Packers 23-21, move to 3-4 on the season (10-23-22)
By: Jay Quimby
Headline Photo Credit: Washington Commanders
Today’s game has the Week 7 matchup between the 2-4 Washington Commanders vs The 3-3 Green Bay Packers. Today’s game before the start of the season might have been another bye week for the Packers. But the Packers have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. Being this far into the season most would’ve expected Rodgers with his deal and weapons would not be two games behind the Vikings and only two ahead of the Lions. As for the Commanders, Carson Wentz has yet to settle in and the defense that hosts 5 former first-round picks to not elite under Jack Del Rio. Many speculate that with the loss today Ron Rivera may be the next coach to get axed.
Washington has deferred to the second half. After getting two first downs, Rodgers had another pass dropped by WR Allen Lazard. Washington is starting at their own 3 yd line. With Washington’s first series it was a quick three and out. Tress Way with a 55-yard punt and Amari Rodgers would return for 16 yards. The Packers take over at the Washington 42 with a nice short field. Packers with a 7-play, 3-yard touchdown, and a four-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jones for the walk-in score. With six minutes in the first half Washington gets the ball back at their 22-yard line. Heineken with a five-yard scamper, the Packers need to account for his ability to scramble. Special teams get it done with another muffed punt, Way with a 43-yard punt and a Commanders’ fumble recovery at the Packers’ 17-yard line. Joey Slye with a twenty-two-yard field goal. Packers with. Holding call on their first play of this drive moving the back ten yards. Packers with a three and out, with a 40-yard punt where Washington takes over. At the end of the first quarter, we have the Packers 7 and Washington 3. Heinicke got picked off by De’Vondre Campbell, Campbell returned the interception 63 yards for the touchdown. Washington goes twelve plays and 83 yds for an eight-yard Antonio Gibson touchdown pass from Taylor Heinicke.
Washington’s defense forces a Packers three and out. Slye misses the forty-seven-yard field goal off the right upright, the second straight week he’s missed a crucial field goal. The Packers take over on downs coming up on the two-minute warning. The first play from scrimmage was a ten-yard penalty. The Packers punt the ball while moving only backward on the field, Washington the ball back with a little over a minute in the first half. Washington punts the ball away with a very quick 3 and out. Tress way with an amazing punt downed at the Packers’ 1-yard line. The Packers run out of the clock taking a fourteen to ten lead into the locker room.
Opening the second half the Commanders moved the ball through the air almost effortlessly for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Now with the score being 17-14 Commanders can the defense continue to hold the Packers’ offense? Washington’s defense held up forcing the Packers to punt to the Washington 15-yard line where the offense looks to capitalize again. Washington’s offense was not able to put the ball in the end zone with 16 plays but Slye was able to make the chip shot from 31 yards out. The Packers get the back with eight seconds left at the end of the third quarter. At the end of the third quarter, the Commanders are up 20-14, the Commanders have dominated in yards 280-115, and time of possession 29:22 for the Commanders 15:38 Packers. The Packers start the fourth quarter with a penalty moving them in the wrong direction. Aaron Rodgers has not and doesn’t look comfortable on the field these last couple of weeks. The Packers made it six plays before coming up a yard short. With over eleven minutes to go the Commanders look to get the ball back and possibly run down the clock. The Packers start with a sack, now can they stop the in a couple of plays? Heinicke with a twenty-six-yard pass and then add on a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct putting the ball at Green Bay’s twenty-yard line. Heinicke completes a couple of passes to put it on the Packers’ two-yard line. Joey Slye makes a nineteen-yard kick to make it a two-score game here in Landover. Green Bay takes over with just over six minutes left can Rodgers get his rhythm with his receivers figured out? Rogers has moved the Packers twenty-two yards but still is missing his signature touch. The Packers are saved by a penalty, hands to the face to give them a new set of downs. The very next play the Commanders make a pass interference setting up a touchdown pass to Aaron Jones for a touchdown making the score Commanders 23, Packers 21. The Packers are kicking it away with both teams having all three timeouts, with just over three minutes remaining in this contest. Commander’s eating away the clock, Packers have used two timeouts before getting to the two-minute warning. With the Packers out of timeouts, Scary Terry McLaurin catches a first-down pass to keep possession for the Commanders. Packers get the ball back with twenty-three seconds on the clock. Rodgers ends the game with an illegal forward pass.
Washington wins their 2nd straight game and moves to 3-4 on the season. This was the 4th straight victory at FedEx Field vs the Packers and officially the longest ever versus any other team. Washington will travel to Indianapolis next Sunday to take on the Colts at 4:25 pm EST.
