The Washington Commanders need a bingo caller, because their number is up.
The once 7-2 darlings of the NFL are now 7-5 and fading faster than offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s reputation. For the third straight game, the offense looked more confused than Democratic pollsters. Add two injured running backs and two injured offensive linemen, and Washington's postseason chances that once seemed certain are now flickering amid the darkness.
The Dallas Cowboys knocked out Washington 34-26 in a game that saw 41 points in the fourth quarter. It was the theater of the absurd on both sides with missed kicks, injuries, long touchdowns and a swinging axe cutting both ways.
Yet, Washington was decimated by self-inflicted errors along with serious injuries, the final seeing Cowboys and Commanders players kneeling alongside Austin Ekeler, who suffered a head injury in the final seconds.
Yes, there are six games left so anything can happen. But, nothing good happened in Sunday’s loss. Losing running back Brian Robinson on the first play with an ankle injury hobbled the game plan even if he briefly returned. Losing Ekeler was a double whammy for the future. Look for a whole lot of Jeremy McNichols against Tennessee as you Google his bio.
Meanwhile, right tackle Andrew Wylie and center Tyler Biadasz also left with injuries that will likely carry over against Tennessee on Dec. 1.
It gets worse. The play calling has been awful. It’s reminiscent of Jim Zorn’s 2009 freefall, when owner Dan Snyder hired retired coach Sherm Lewis to leave his bingo calling duties to call plays over the second half of the season. That was absurd, but the Kingsbury Kliff that dogged him during his days in Arizona have followed the play caller to Washington. The last three weeks have been awful with opponents packing close. Dallas anticipated Kingsbury regularly.
Maybe it’s quarterback Jayden Daniels’ rib injury, perhaps it’s just defenses figuring out Kingsbury. Either way, something must change. But given injuries, that may be harder than believed.
“We have to find a way to start faster and stay in drives,” said receiver Terry McLaurin. “That’s everybody, our whole coaching staff and offensive players going out there and figuring out ways that we can stay on the field and help the defense.”
Ah, the defense. They’ve actually done OK as the season progresses. However, the offense can’t keep losing time of possession by 10 minutes per game, like Dallas’ 35:12 to 24:48 edge. The defense is melting late.
And special teams? They blocked a field goal, but now-healthy kicker Austin Seibert returned to miss a key extra point late and a field goal, while coverage allowed two Dallas touchdowns. What a backbreaker.
Overall, Washington has big problems that probably can’t be overcome this season. Maybe the Commanders limp into the postseason before a quick exit, but the roster makeover of the past offseason will be repeated once more.
Maybe next time the team can survive into December.