Carson Wentz overcomes blunders to lead Commanders to victory over Jaguars

LANDOVER —  Carson Wentz found an answer.

After it appeared that the quarterback was on his way to suffering another meltdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars,  the Washington Commanders quarterback rallied — and then some. 

Wentz found rookie Jahan Dotson for a 24-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left as the Commanders pulled out a 28-22 win Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Washington’s season opener, helping the team overcome three turnovers and a second-half collapse. 

The 29-year-old Wentz engineered a comeback late, overcoming two interceptions earlier in the second half that helped give Jacksonville the lead. He retook control with a series of big-time throws, finding Dotson and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a pair of scores. 

Wentz threw for 313 yards, four touchdowns and two picks in his first game since being traded to the Commanders in March. He was dealt from the Indianapolis Colts, who parted ways with Wentz weeks after an ugly Week 18 loss to the Jaguars in which the quarterback’s poor performance cost Indianapolis a shot at the playoffs. 

Days before Sunday’s contest, Ron Rivera admitted he felt “anxious” to see how his team would perform after weeks of training camp. And while the Commanders coach said he usually feels pre-game jitters, he acknowledged there were many questions about this year’s group because injuries at running back and tight end prevented his staff from getting a complete evaluation in practice. “I’m anxious to see what we are, who we are, where we are,” he said. 

At the stadium, there was also an air of anticipation. FedEx Field, in the lower bowl at least, appeared mostly filled.  Fans donned new Commanders gear and long lines formed around the team’s new merchandise shop. The start of the 2022 season, after all, marked the beginning of a new era for a franchise that had rebranded as the Commanders months earlier.

To start, Wentz went a long way to calm his coach’s nerves — and amp up the crowd in the process. 

After Jacksonville opened the game with a drive that ended with a 33-yard field goal, Wentz and the Commanders found a rhythm. After sailing his first throw, Wentz settled in with four consecutive completions, the last a touchdown to wide receiver Curtis Samuel. 

Samuel’s emergence for Washington was a welcome development.

Last year, the wideout played in just five games and logged only six catches fo 27 yards. But on Washington’s first two drives alone, Samuel surpassed his 2021 production. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner called up a variety of plays that targeted Samuel and the wide receiver rewarded the Commanders by making defenders miss with his speed. 

On Washington’s second series, Wentz led a methodical drive that moved his team down the field. With 11:47 to go in the first half, the quarterback found rookie Jahan Dotson for the 7-yard touchdown — giving the Commanders a 14-3 lead. 

The back-to-back scores marked the first time since 1991 — the season Washington last won the Super Bowl — that Washington opened a season with two consecutive touchdowns.

But that proved to be the high point for Washington. And boy, did things change. 

The Jaguars were able to consistently move the ball on Washington’s defense. The Jaguars did themselves no favors in the first half with a series of overthrows and drops, but Jacksonville cleaned those issues up after halftime. 

Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence helped lead four straight scoring drives — two touchdowns and two field goals — to open the second half. 

But Jacksonville was put in that position in part because of a Washington offense that went flat. Wentz threw interceptions on the Commanders’ second and third drives of the second half. After the first turnover, Jacksonville took a 15-14 lead on a 45-yard field goal. 

With the pressure mounting, Wentz committed another mistake — throwing an interception right to defensive end Travon Walker, who read the play all the way to jump in front of the screen pass. 

The Jaguars needed just one play — an 11-yard rush from running back James Robinson — to find the end zone, giving Jacksonville a 22-14 lead. 

Wentz, though, is an unpredictable talent. For every bone-headed mistake, he’s just as likely to tantalize coaches, teammates and fans with the types of throws few other quarterbacks can make. 

So naturally, with momentum seemingly going Jacksonville’s way, Wentz responded by hitting a wide-open Terry McLaurin on a 49-yard bomb for the touchdown. The Commanders then failed to convert the two-point attempt, but the score made up much-needed ground. And quickly. 

Finding new life, the Commanders forced a stop — giving Wentz and Co. another chance to go down and take the lead. 

Wentz did just that. And though Jacksonville had time to respond, Commanders safety Darrick Forrest picked off Lawrence to seal the victory for Washington.