Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about that nail-biter between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. You know, the one that left you questioning whether Ron Rivera made the right call by not going for a two-point conversion at the end of regulation. I mean, who saw that coming? Raise your hand.
Admit it; you were on the edge of your seat, like the rest of us, wondering if the Commanders would roll the dice and go for the win. It seemed like the logical choice. Road teams often go for broke in these situations. Teams perceived as the underdogs? Heck, they’re even more likely to take that shot.
The reasoning behind this? Playing for overtime gives the home team (or the superior one) the upper hand. And in this case, the Eagles were the top dogs. So, why not throw caution to the wind and roll the dice on one single, heart-pounding, all-or-nothing play?
Ah, but there’s the rub. Common wisdom isn’t always in sync with analytics. Now, we can all look back and criticize Ron Rivera’s decision, especially now that we know the Commanders ended up losing the game. But guess what? I’m here to tell you that Rivera made the correct choice.
You see, the standard two-point conversion rate, assuming no penalties that shake up the line of scrimmage, hovers just below 50 percent. It’s been that way for ages. You might think you’ve got a coin flip’s chance of pulling it off. But, my friends, it’s not that simple.
The Eagles knew it was crunch time. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy dialed up a play with four curl routes for the last play of regulation. Quarterback Sam Howell had to pick his poison and make it count.
On one side, you had the Eagles’ top cornerbacks, Darius Slay and James Bradberry, locking down Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Howell wisely avoided Slay, who’s got eyes like a hawk.
Instead, he looked right. Jahan Dotson, who had a crucial third-down drop earlier, was isolated against second-year cornerback Josh Jobe. With perfect timing, Howell fired a bullet to Dotson, securing a game-tying 10-yard touchdown.
That drive showcased the Commanders’ offensive prowess and their never-give-up attitude. But it was what happened afterward that had us scratching our heads. Coach Rivera decided not to go for the win with a two-point conversion, something he usually prefers on the road.
In overtime, chaos ensued. A three-and-out, a shanked punt, and the Eagles edged just close enough to nail a 54-yard game-winner. Tough break.
Despite the outcome, there’s something to be proud of here. The Commanders bounced back from a disastrous performance last week and delivered an edge-of-your-seat game against the defending NFC champions. They showed grit and determination. However, we can’t ignore the nagging issue—this team struggles to put together two strong halves of football.
Now, let’s hand out some awards:
After a forgettable outing against the Bills, Howell responded with a vengeance. He threw for 290 yards and that game-tying touchdown. Sure, he got sacked five times, but he also made some jaw-dropping throws under pressure and scrambled when it mattered most.
Emmanuel Forbes: It was a tough day at the office for the rookie cornerback, continuously torched by A.J. Brown. Brown snagged nine receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns, both at Forbes’ expense.
So, folks, while the result might not have been what Commanders fans hoped for, there’s plenty to dissect and discuss. And in this rollercoaster of a season, we’ll be hanging onto the edge of our seats for more Commanders action. Strap in!
