Official Game Thread - vs Buffalo Bills

[Boone]

They're a far better team brother. We had the ball on their one early and couldn't punch it in on back to back attempts. Their D is legit and their offense is one of the most explosive in the league. I hope the coaching staff doesn't convince themselves that 'if only we didn't turn it over' things would be different. Of course, the turnovers made it impossible to stay in reach, but I think we were outcoached, outschemed, and outplayed by a much better and more talented team. The turnovers were a symptom of that, not the cause.

The reason for 'any given Sunday' is that sometimes, the better team doesn't win. They get surprised, or play a bad game, or just get the bad bounces. But most of the time, the better team wins. That's what happened today.

 

[burgold]

Yep. We were totally outclassed especially on the lines.

We were also out-talented

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Yep. We were totally outclassed especially on the lines.

We were also out-talented

There were a lot of problems today. But you mention the biggest. To me the game came down to QB pressure. Buffalo was providing it constantly. I heard during the game at one point in the 4th quarter, it was 80%. Howell was pressured on almost every drop back. Not all the sack are in the o line, but the rush was dominating by Buffalo. On the other side, very little pressure from the Commanders. Too many rushes looked like contain rushes. The few times they did apply pressure and keep Allen in the pocket under the pressure, were some of his worst throws of the game. The Buffalo D did what I wish this D would do. Dictate the game. They dominated and controlled the entire game. The O-line for Buffalo controlled the d line. Despite the score and turnovers, which need to be addressed as well, that D Line dominated.

 

[Boone]

I said during our pod last week, if the goal of our pass rush was to ‘contain’ Allen that would be a huge mistake. To rattle Josh Allen you have to get to him and dirty him up.

Honestly, I think our DL just got manhandled. When you look at the talent we have there that is unacceptable.

Yeah, Howell threw a gazillion interceptions. But we couldn’t get to Allen and I’m not sure anything that happened on offense would have mattered much.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I said during our pod last week, if the goal of our pass rush was to ‘contain’ Allen that would be a huge mistake. To rattle Josh Allen you have to get to him and dirty him up.

Honestly, I think our DL just got manhandled. When you look at the talent we have there that is unacceptable.

Yeah, Howell threw a gazillion interceptions. But we couldn’t get to Allen and I’m not sure anything that happened on offense would have mattered much.

I remember that and you were spot on. Some of the times they tried to contain him, the o-line just pushed the D-Line out of they way and let him escape to make a pass or run for a big gain. So the contain rush didn't even work to contain him.

 

[Canadian Hog]

It doesn't really make sense why we have thrown Howell to the wolves against a very strong Buffalo defense in his 4th career start. Part of that is just who Bienemy is as a coordinator. However, part of me also wonders if this is a deliberate attempt to determine if he indeed is the guy we can push forward with into the future. With a new coordinator and ownership, in many regards, this is an evaluation and grace year. I am sure Bienemy and the organization in general knows what potentially awaits in the draft at the QB position. I will say this, the one mistake we can't make heading into the off-season is to have a cloudy picture about who Sam Howell is exactly. You either determine you are riding with him, or you rip off the bandaid. No in betweens for a 5th round pick. I get the sense Bienemy will paint that picture very clearly for us, even if it comes at the expense of squeezing into the playoffs.

 

[Boone]

I definitely think there is an element of 'throwing to the wolves' in EB's approach. I think that's what all of the passing is about, he wants to put max pressure on the kid to see what he can do and how he responds. I may be crazy, but in my mind I've already seen enough of Howell to believe he absolutely can be the starter for the forseeable future. He's got the arm, the grit, the athleticism, and smarts to be a starter, setting aside his performance today.

I don't think the '5th round pick' should factor in at all. Shame on the front office if it does.

He's literally a kid. Look at the 1st full seasons of even the guys who were supposed 'sure-fire' NFL success stories taken with a top 10 draft pick. It's not generally pretty. NFL fans are incredibly impatient. Washington fans are even more impatient.

But I default back to what I have most hoped for since it became possible Dan Snyder could be removed. Hire a GM. Let him hire a HC. Let them decide the future and whether Sam Howell is the guy to lead this team. It doesn't (and I would argue shouldn't) have to happen in a lame duck season, especailly with Ron Rivera and Mayhew making the decisions. I hope that's what we see as soon as the 2023 season is a wrap.

 

[Chris]

Studs, Duds, and Hat Tips:

Studs- Cameron Cheeseman

Duds- everyone not mentioned

Hat Tips- Joey Slye, Tress Way, Brian Robinson (running, definitely not blocking)

 

[DieselPwr44]

If the goal is to get Sam Howell on IR by week 7, by all means, keep passing the football at almost a 3 to 1 clip.

The game has changed somewhat but you can't convince me that a good run game wouldn't help a young Qb out. When Brian Robinson is averaging 7 yds a carry, seems like someone on staff could remind EB to give the kid a few more touches. Yesterday, BRob was on the field for a whole 20 snaps.

That seems bad to me. Still early , still time to adjust , just hope they do.

 

[burgold]

I think running the ball would help, but I also think we’ve reached the point where something has to be tried on a he line.

Maybe that’s flipping Cosmi and Wylie
Maybe that’s benching Wylie for Lucas
Maybe it’s giving Paul a shot over Charles

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is admit you were wrong and your signings or plan isn’t working.

So maybe run more, maybe try other players, maybe leave a tight end in to block when your tackles have proven they can’t hold up or deal with speed rushers.

Not saying by game four, you have to blow everything up, but after four disastrous pass pro games against defenses not renowned for their pass rushers, you have to try something new.

 

[Boone]

If the goal is to get Sam Howell on IR by week 7, by all means, keep passing the football at almost a 3 to 1 clip.

The game has changed somewhat but you can't convince me that a good run game wouldn't help a young Qb out. When Brian Robinson is averaging 7 yds a carry, seems like someone on staff could remind EB to give the kid a few more touches. Yesterday, BRob was on the field for a whole 20 snaps.

That seems bad to me. Still early , still time to adjust , just hope they do.

I think that we can all acknowledge 'it's a passing league' now and that what you are saying makes a ton of sense. Rolling the kid out more, doing more quick hitter plays, and reduce some of the long-developing play action passes when our OL can't protect long enough to execute them, those are all things they should be trying to do to help the kid.

I am also with burgold because other than shuffling guys around, there's not much in the short term we can do to shore up the OL. If we do come in with gameplans with more of the above, I think the OL looks better than it did yesterday.

For me, the gameplan yesterday was a 'we're going to go toe to toe with a top team'. The only problem being, we don't match up well yet against a top team. I get the argument that take away the turnovers and we're in this game to the end. But the problem is, those takeaways didn't happen in a vaccuum. Receivers didn't appear to be able to get open consistently, the OL protection was very tenuous, and as you guys have pointed out, the playcalling was risky at times.

 

[Chris]

 

[DixieFlatline]

Definite growing pains.

 

[Boone]

I know I'm old, but ... I just don't get it.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Seen that somewhere before Boone.... Oh I know now!!!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I know I'm old, but ... I just don't get it.

Dudes like to play dress up for games these days. Some teams do themes for certain games. Other times, they make guys dress up a certain way for losing a bet or as some sort of punishment. It usually done for team camaraderie. And yes it’s odd for most of us, but it’s what they do.

 

[burgold]

I have a dim memory of Riggins showing up to a game in combat fatigues. Afterwards, for a short time, people talked about Riggo's Rangers.

Here's the thing though. If you're going to dress up you have to show up. If that's a ninja mask Chase is wearing, I'd say he showed he can disappear like a ninja.

 

[Om]

I have a dim memory of Riggins showing up to a game in combat fatigues. Afterwards, for a short time, people talked about Riggo's Rangers.

Here's the thing though. If you're going to dress up you have to show up. If that's a ninja mask Chase is wearing, I'd say he showed he can disappear like a ninja.

Ah, memories.

I remember this like it was ... well, actually it seems like a long time ago.

Washington Invaded Dallas In 1983

A few days before the 1983 Redskins-Cowboys game in Dallas, Redskin players bought military fatigues at a D.C. surplus store, aiming to prove they were on a mission

www.commanders.com

Looking for more pics of that "business trip" the Skins made to Dallas. In this one, I only recognize two guys definitively. That's LB Rich Milot in the field cap and porn 'stache third from left, and RG George Starke ("Holding! Offense, number 74!") staring the camera through cool shades in the back row. One of the formative Gibbs moments in my Skins Life.