The Commanders’ offense played their most frustrating half last Sunday in Dallas to begin the season finale.
They couldn’t produce any offensive movement in the first quarter. In fact, the Commanders didn’t cross midfield until six and a half minutes were remaining in the first half.
It was third & 10 from the Washington 48, and as Jayden Daniels dropped back to pass, he again felt the play would be unsuccessful as a pass, so he stepped up and ran 16 yards to the Dallas 36.
Here, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury determined that he would score on the Cowboys with some trickery, as Washington was down 6-0 and unable to execute anything well thus far.
At 6:17, Daniels took a deep snap, looked to his right, and saw Dyami Brown approaching him from the right side, where he had lined up at the snap. Daniels flipped the ball to Brown, who continued left, stepped up at the 45, and heaved a pass toward the left side of the end zone.
Kingsbury had guessed correctly; Olamide Zaccheaus was wide open eight yards behind the nearest Cowboy. The ball led Zaccheaus to the end zone, where Zaccheaus promptly dropped it.
It was a perfect illustration of the offensive coordinator planning a specific play, then running it in reps during the practice week, finding the ideal opportunity to call it during a game, and the play coming wide open; however, a player not finishing the play.
It was a microcosm of Sunday’s first half against the Cowboys. The drive ended in a Zane Gonzalez field goal, but the touchdown that put the Commanders ahead 7-6 was there for the taking, and the team simply couldn’t step up and make the play.
With Jayden Daniels attempting 12 passes, the result had been a mere 38 yards, being sacked four times for -18 yards and only three first-half points.
At least Marcus Mariota came to the rescue in the second half…