The Washington Commanders suffered their first loss of the season in a thrilling game against the Pittsburgh Steelersby a final score of 28-27 at Northwest Stadium.
Every aspect of their game-special teams, offense and defense-played a role in the outcome, although some small but costly mistakes ultimately prevented them from winning.
Special Teams Mistakes Complicate The Commanders Game
Special teams were a focal point, with Commanders coach Dan Quinn anticipating a close contest between the two teams' units. His prediction came true. Washington's special teams had a tough day, especially for Olamide Zaccheaus, who lost two fumbles on punt returns.
Zaccheaus' second mistake was particularly costly, as the Steelers recovered it and scored quickly, bringing the score to 14-7 in their favor. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh also took a big risk with a fake punt at their own 15-yard line, which failed when Miles Killebrew's pass slipped away from James Pierre.
This gave Washington a field position advantage, and three plays later they were able to score a touchdown. Washington, a team generally known for its low rate of mistakes on special teams, found this fumble to be a rare and costly slip-up.
Clearing kicker Tress Way had an active game, sending six clearances for a total of 330 yards, including a season-long 74-yard clearance, reflecting the Commanders' difficulties in sustaining their offensive gains.
Washington Offensive Faces Difficulties, Missed Opportunities
Washington's offensive unit had its lowest output of the season, with just 242 yards. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was under pressure, getting caught three times and missing crucial connections with his receivers.
Among the missed opportunities were a third-down pass just out of Zaccheaus' reach and another incomplete pass to Zach Ertz, both of which resulted in difficult third-down situations.
After managing to get into the end zone in the third quarter, the Commanders' offense struggled to sustain the drive. Their problems were compounded by an incomplete pass to rookie Luke McCaffrey and a series of negative plays that took them from the Pittsburgh 40-yard line to their own 38-yard line.
A holding penalty also slowed them down, nullifying a six-yard gain by Chris Rodriguez that would have created a manageable third-and-two situation, which led to another Way punt. Little mistakes like these throughout the game prevented the offense from mounting a substantial lead.
A Strong Defense But Affected by Decisive Penalties
The Commanders' defense turned in a solid performance against the Steelers, holding running back Najee Harris to just 58 yards on 21 carries, even though he had topped 100 yards in each of his last three games. Steelers quarterback Wilson was limited to a modest 108 yards through the air until the final quarter.
The defense also forced two turnovers, which helped Washington remain competitive throughout the game. However, penalties also affected their performance, as early defensive mistakes allowed Pittsburgh to find scoring opportunities.
These included pass interference and roughing the passer penalties during the Steelers' second offensive series, advancing them into the red zone. A holding penalty on Dante Fowler's defense in the third quarter gave Pittsburgh another set of opportunities, leading to a touchdown shortly thereafter.
In the game's decisive moments, Benjamin St-Juste allowed Steelers receiver Mike Williams to catch a 32-yard touchdown pass on third-and-9, giving Pittsburgh a 28-27 lead.
Also, with Washington with no timeouts, a fourth-down offside penalty on Johnny Newton gave Pittsburgh a chance to run out the clock and secure the win.
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Challenges in the Ground Game Limit Time Control and Offensive Series
In the ground game, Washington faced a significant challenge against a Pittsburgh team that rarely allowed 100 yards on the ground. Despite this, they tried to keep the ground game a constant part of their offense.
However, Washington's ground game was largely ineffective, managing just 60 yards on 22 carries, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Running back Austin Ekeler led the way with 44 ground yards, adding two touchdowns and converting some short-yardage situations.
The rest of the team's running backs totaled just 16 yards, and in the crucial fourth quarter, the Commanders' longest run was just six yards. This lack of a strong ground game presence limited their ability to control the clock and sustain offensive series.
After the game, Coach Quinn and the players expressed disappointment in coming so close to victory, but acknowledged their own mistakes against a formidable opponent. The team will observe its "24-hour rule," allowing a brief period of reflection before focusing fully on its next game.
This discipline will be vital as the Commanders prepare for an important Thursday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Eagles recently winning against the Dallas Cowboys, the game will determine first place in the NFC East, adding additional weight to the occasion.
The Commanders face a tough challenge in a hostile environment at Lincoln Financial Field, where they will need to put this close loss behind them and give their best effort in pursuit of a crucial divisional victory.
