Was this a microcosm of what the 2022 season with Carson Wentz might be for the Washington Commanders?
Wow!
Jahan Dotson was WIDE open on the first offensive snap, and Wentz’s pass sailed high. But Wentz rebounded leading two scoring drives in his first two possessions as Commanders’ quarterback and Washington led 14-3.
In the third quarter, Washington stalled having to punt on their first possession and on their second possession faced a 2nd &2, but Wentz threw incompletions the next two plays.
His next series and the lead decreased to 14-12, looking for Dotson on a deep out pattern to the left, Wentz appeared to stare down Dotson permitting Tyson Campbell to jump the route, making the interception.
With the Commanders trailing 15-14, the next possession’s first play saw Wentz, off a play-action fake to Gibson, literally one second later, attempt a pass to Gibson. Jacksonville’s Trayvon Walker was all over that idea, intercepting Wentz. The Jags needed only one play from 11 yards, and the Commanders trailed 22-14. Boos could now be heard directed toward Wentz.
On a crucial 3rd & 8 from the Washington 24, Logan Thomas was wide open, and Wentz connected to Thomas for 27 yards to the Jaguars 49. On the next play, Terry McLaurin was open down the right sideline, and Wentz put the ball on the money for the sudden strike, and it was 22-20.
After a Jaguars punt, Wentz needed to go 90 yards or lose his first game as a Commander. He completed three short passes, then inexplicably sailed an incompletion over a wide-open Dax Milne. Now facing 3rd & 10 from the 36, he found Thomas for 14 yards to the 50.
On 3rd & 8 from the 24, Wentz lofted a pass into the end zone, and Dotson made the catch for the winning score. Wentz ran to the end zone to congratulate Dotson and as he reached the sideline pointed back toward Dotson, crediting the rookie for the reception.
What a roller coaster ride in this first Commanders game with Carson Wentz. When he was hot, he was on fire. When he was off, he was inaccurate and threw two interceptions. But in the end, Wentz was resilient with four touchdown passes.
In the locker room following the game, Coach Ron Rivera tossed a game ball to Wentz. Teammates cheered, and several yelled, “Speech, speech.” Wentz addressed the team, “Hey, I know it has been a wild offseason for me, for all of us. We have so much potential in this locker room, for us to go out and do the thing we did tonight. And I know it looked rough for a second. Back-to-back passes thrown to the other team; that’s on me. But that’s the way we finish, and that’s what good teams do. You find a way to win. It ain’t always going to be pretty in this league. But you find a way to dig deep and get it done in the end. And that’s what we did tonight; good job.”