![]() Taking 9 sacks is not as uncommon as you might think. Their rushing total was only around league average because they had the second fewest rushing attempts (13).Īs shocking as the 9 sack figure is, Commanders’ fans may be surprised to learn that QBs have been sacked even more than 9 times on 50 occasions since 1960 (the earliest that the Pro Football Reference database records them). On a positive note, the Commanders’ 8.1 yard per carry rushing average tied with the Dolphins for the highest in the league in Week 3. The offense ranked 26 th in total yardage (230 yds), 29 th in net passing yards (125 yds), and 17 th in net rushing yards. The Commanders offense tied with the Titans for fewest points scored in Week 3. The Commanders are tied in 21 st place at 50% red zone conversions for the season. Washington’s 0% red zone conversion rate tied with Atlanta and Tennessee for worst in the league in Week 3. ![]() Washington’s only other red zone excursion resulted in a Tra’Davious White interception in the end zone on a 15 yard pass intended for Curtis Samuel (EPA -3.77, 4 th worst play). The incompletion on 4 th down was Washington’s 5 th most impactful negative play of the game (EPA -2.87). With 11:46 remaining in the half, trailing Buffalo by 10 points, Washington opted to pass on 4 th down from the Buffalo 2 yard line instead of taking the easy chip shot field goal. The Commanders might not have faced such a large early deficit if they had not missed a scoring opportunity early in the second quarter. Clearly Bieniemy’s 69% to 31% pass/rush balance was the wrong strategy. The Commanders’ rushing attack was the 9 th best in the NFL in Week 3, with an EPA of -0.006 (essentially 0). The Commanders passing offense ranked dead last in the league in efficiency on Sunday, with an astounding -0.704 Expected Points Added (EPA) per drop back, the lowest mark any team has achieved this season. Some have suggested that Bieniemy had to abandon the run early because his team fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter. They averaged a very impressive 8.1 yards per rushing attempt, with no turnovers, and a somewhat less impressive 5.86 yards per pass attempt with 9 sacks for 45 yards, and 5 turnovers. On a rainy day, impacted by Tropical Storm Ophelia, with a young quarterback making his fourth start, the Commanders ran 29 passing plays to just 13 rushing plays. Sunday’s game marked Washington’s lowest score since hitting that low point. Washington has not been shut out since the Week 7 loss to the 49ers in 2019. The last time Washington lost by more than 34 points was the 14-56 drubbing by Dallas on Boxing Day (26 December), 2021. The Broncos lost to the Dolphins by 50 points. As much as that may hurt, it wasn’t even the largest blow-out on Sunday. They did manage to score a field goal in garbage time to avoid a shutout. The Commanders lost to the Buffalo Bills by 34 points. But I have to warn you, they didn’t give me much to work with. I have done my best, where I could, to highlight the positives and paint the Commanders’ performance in the best possible light. The Bills dominated the sons of Washington in just about every facet of the game. There is no way to sugar coat the 3-37 loss. Now we can park it in the garage for at least a week. It was a good idea to check the tires and oil on the bandwagon after the 2-0 start. In the first game against a quality opponent since the change of ownership, the Commanders came crashing back down to earth, suffering a comprehensive beating at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
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