Regrets are easier to stomach after a win, and that’s how the work week will begin for the Washington Commanders when they return to the facility on Tuesday.
A 24-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was filled with the kinds of mistakes that have cost Washington throughout the years — poor clock management, turnovers and penalties. This time, though, it was the Falcons making those mistakes and handing over the victory.
Commanders quarterback Sam Howell feels his team has plenty to work on, too.
“We know we have a lot of stuff we can clean up, and we know we can play better,” he told reporters after the win. “Atlanta is a good football team. So it’s exciting that you can win but you also didn’t play your best game.”
Howell continued to take sacks at a record-breaking clip, but this time those mistakes didn’t turn into turnovers.
The defense gave up big plays to Atlanta receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, but this time those plays didn’t turn into touchdowns.
And Washington’s special teams breathed life into the contest with a Jamison Crowder punt return that set up an early score.
What’s unclear is whether those things are a formula for sustained success, or just a gritty performance that produced a one-off victory against a struggling team.
“If we’re not turning the ball over, if we’re not turning the ball over in negative situations, we can withstand a lot,” Commanders coach Ron Rivera said. “I think (this) really showed what we’re capable of as a defense. Again, we’ve got a lot of work to still continue to do, but it was good to see the guys play the way they did.”
That work includes getting rookie defensive back Emmanuel Forbes Jr. back into the mix. Forbes sat out against Atlanta after back-to-back rough weeks against Philadelphia and Chicago.
He was drafted in the first round to bring more takeaways into the mix, but his teammates filled that void capably on Sunday.
Cornerback Kendall Fuller also noted that the defensive depth shone through, including a pair of sacks from backup defensive tackle Casey Toohill.
“That’s what every good defense has to have,” Fuller said. “There are gonna be injuries throughout the season, and things like that. Casey, James Smith Williams, all those guys work hard throughout the week and it was good to see that show on the field.”
The win was a huge one to lift Washington to 3-3 ahead of an intriguing matchup against the Giants on Sunday. But as the work week begins, the Commanders players and coaches knew Sunday afternoon it will likely take a better effort to beat the Giants.
In Rivera’s speech to the team, he alluded to a sign he put in the locker room last week that read “Do Your Job.”
Rivera told the players: “Y’all did the job, but you’ve got to pay attention to detail. We were not detail oriented today. We’ve got to be detail oriented. You want to be a great team? Details. Little things add up. Little things become big things. Big things become great things, and you become champions. That’s the way it happens.”
Atlanta’s miscues opened the door Sunday. But as Washington prepares for the next game, they know not to count on that happening every week.
Leno sits out after wife’s miscarriage
Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. sat out Sunday’s game after his wife miscarried the couple’s child over the weekend.
The family has three daughters, and was expecting a fourth in the spring.
Cornelius Lucas filled in capably in relief.
“Big Luc, we call him,” Howell said. “He did a good job stepping in today.”
Howell was one of several players to share that the team was thinking of Leno throughout the day.
“It’s super tough to hear something like that happen with one of our teammates and one of our brothers, so we’re all behind him and supporting him and his family,” Howell said. “We hope to get him back out soon, but there’s a lot of things bigger than football, and God will be with his family and strengthen him throughout this time.”
Rivera shared Monday that he had been in contact with Leno and the family was doing well in a difficult time.
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