Commanders @ Colts
Final Score: Commanders 17, Colts 16
Writer: Matthew Bevins (@MattBQBList on Twitter)
It’s very clear there is a lot going on with both Indy and Washington. Washington is actively undergoing a facelift, with youth uprising their squad as they look at a new quarterback at the helm in Taylor Heinicke. Brian Robinson also returns from a horrific preseason injury in a botched carjacking to potentially lead the backfield. Oh, and their owner may eventually be ousted. Not to be outdone, the Colts have an owner on the other side who has actively stated he’d like to see Washington’s owner gone, as they also attempt to find lightning in a bottle with a new quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, as well as trying to get their inarguable #1 overall fantasy pick in Jonathan Taylor rolling. Let’s dive in! However, the home-field advantage couldn’t stop the Commanders from overtaking the Indy squad at home, seeking one out 17-16 and likely earning Heinicke another run behind center.
Washington Commanders
Quarterback
Taylor Heinicke: 23/31, 279 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 6 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD
Heinicke earned his stripes and then some in Sunday’s game, playing poised behind center and likely spelling the “injury” Carson Wentz will continue to have. Neither quarterback has the excitement that Sam Howell on the bench may eventually possess, but with a team like Washington sitting at .500, there is clearly some work to be done here in potentially making the playoffs. Heinicke played poised but also focused on their #1 pure wide receiver in Terry McLaurin (I know, crazy, just a thought Carson Wentz). There were plenty of plays made to McLaurin, but he also found Antonio Gibson often out of the backfield and helped make the game less of a one-focus attack, firing a touchdown pass off play action to Gibson, early in the second quarter. There also was just shy of 30 yards rushing, so it’s very clear the wheels can help fire off some game-saving when needed. As luck would have it, he did have a pick that was bounced out of the defender’s hands, but overall it was a very solid showing to keep his name on the radar with Ron Rivera.
Antonio Gibson pone a los #Commanders por delante 🙌#MundoNFL #HTTCpic.twitter.com/tev82bcphV
— Mundo NFL (@MundoNFL) October 30, 2022
Running Back
Brian Robinson: 8 carries, 20 yards
Antonio Gibson: 7 carries, 19 yards | 7 targets, 7 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD
J.D. McKissic: 2 carries, 6 yards | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 14 yards
Alright. This backfield has me flummoxed, not going to lie. Brian Robinson held our heart’s attention in the preseason, juicing himself back into the NFL at a meteoric pace, and when all was said and done, he basically had missed the minimum time expected. On a pretty dreary Thursday Night game against the Bears, he had himself a showcase, and now we’re back to fighting for scraps. In his four games played, Robinson has now carried the rock under ten times in two of the four, and it’s very clear this backfield will both be split between Robinson and Curtis Samuel, the hybrid receiver who also took the rushes on four separate occasions.
If that isn’t frustrating enough, the Antonio Gibson pass-catching will also eke off some playmaking, never mind the coaching staff will likely ride Gibson more if he continues to dominate in his pass-catching achievements. For what it’s worth, the long receiving touchdown was made open on a nifty little play-action pass to Gibson. Brian Robinson showcased in the preseason, but the worry to me now is what if that was more a competitor level played against, and less of his upside. He clearly has wheels and some vision, but if this backfield is going to continue to be a three-piece Hydra mish-mash, you may want to cash out your chips here in D.C.
It’s also entirely clear after the Commanders went down late in the game that they needed to focus on the capability of their pass-catching capable backfield, which could honestly muck up what actual backs are preferred in a standard game script.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Terry McLaurin: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 113 yards | 1 carry, – 7 yards
Curtis Samuel: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 50 yards | 4 carries, 29 yards
Cam Sims: 2 targets, 1 reception, 21 yards
Armani Rogers: 2 targets, 1 reception, 13 yards
John Bates: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Dax Milne: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
It’s very clear after this game and in any game where the Commanders stay competitive, that the game should run around Terry McLaurin. Targeted in almost half of the wide receiver targets, there is very clearly comfort here between Heinicke and McLaurin, and at just under 20 yards per reception today, McLaurin bailed out Heinicke numerous times, but also helped lead the Commanders on their game-winning drive with a magnificent catch.
Curtis Samuel can make some plays in the wide receiver room, but the team can continue to make plays on the back of McLaurin, and hopefully, this team is starting to see what he can do again, as there hasn’t been much consistency for him for a bit (once again, chalked up moreso to Wentz than anything else). Other than that, the receiving game was bolstered between Antonio Gibson and Curtis Samuel, with both able to split their time between backfield and receiving lineups. Aside from it, there isn’t much else in this receiving core, and without a healthy and consistent Logan Thomas, it’s very clear the bread will be buttered through McLaurin and Samuel.
Check below for one of the best catches of the season. Get on up there, Terry!
Washington #Commanders WR Terry McLaurin was a critical piece in their win over the Indianapolis #Colts today. Washington won, 17-16 pic.twitter.com/aXe6enJnR8
— Win Big Sports (@WBSNsports) October 31, 2022
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Sam Ehlinger: 17/23, 201 Yards | 6 carries, 15 yards
After nearly two months of mediocre quarterback play from a former star in Matt Ryan, the coaching staff decided to see what they had in Sam Ehlinger, a gunslinger out of the Texas University system. Ehlinger was nothing if not uninspiring with moments of potential. There were times in which he threw some massive darts that were slightly overthrown, and there were also passes like early in the fourth quarter to Parris Campbell, where without an arm hold on a deep huck, what could have been. Campbell laid out for a deep pass but was unfortunately tied down by a defender holding his arm.
While there wasn’t a win made in this game, there is definitely some talent to be pulled from this performance, and it’s likely we won’t see Matt Ryan again anytime soon. A run-and-gun mentality could benefit Indy’s gameplay a bit better, and it’s clear this team needs a bit more speed as they attempt to get Jonathan Taylor rolling. Ehlinger made a very nifty late-game rush to extend a drive with roughly five minutes to go in the game, so there’s clearly some hurry-up and go to his quarterback style.
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor: 16 carries, 76 yards | 1 target, 0 receptions
Nyheim Hines: 5 carries, 20 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 29 yards
Deon Jackson: 1 carry, -4 yards
This backfield should be so easy to figure out. Your number one overall drafted rusher for the season. The true dynamo who ended up scorching the earth last season. Jonathan Taylor just can’t get his boat off the shore this season. This is such a difficult experience to watch, as someone who has so much talent, and in various plays even in just this game was just a vision step, or book and go from breaking off a large run out of contact. The line isn’t giving him much time to break out and burst off the line, but this is just two weeks removed from Deon Jackson blowing expectations out of the water after being the last man standing, and he’s now on the bench with steam coming out from under his helmet, waiting for his chance. What does this team do? It’s clear that with this offense struggling, they need to look inside themselves and figure out what to do with their star back who hasn’t broken 100 yards rushing since the opening game of the season. Hell, their most dynamic two plays in the rushing game were likely the Nyheim Hines touchdown scamper, or the over-the-shoulder Willie Mays catch that Hines made going out of bounds. Sad days, indeed.
Nyheim Hines makes an UNBELIEVABLE over-the-shoulder catch!! pic.twitter.com/ZMfMP5EvsQ
— Brian (@byysports) October 30, 2022
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Pittman: 9 targets, 7 receptions, 53 yards
Alec Pierce: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 65 yards
Parris Campbell: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 43 yards | 1 carry, 28 yards
Kylen Granson: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 11 yards
Mo-Alie Cox: 1 target, 0 receptions
The best part of the Colts’ offense may be their depth at wide receiver (before the year started, I’m entirely certain this is not what anyone would guess). Michael Pittman can soak through targets til the cows come home, and did that again today, coming just one shy of 10 targets and surpassing 8 targets for the 7th time through 8 games. It’s very clear that Pittman is now officially the centerpiece of this offense.
While this can be guaranteed, Alec Pierce has become a dynamic piece, and he has made his game known as well. Pierce had the longest reception for 47 yards in the game, and not to be outdone, Parris Campbell was used on numerous rushing plays where he outpaced Taylor on his rushes, and also showcased the potency of screen gameplay. Campbell is someone who came out of the draft with as much fanfare as Pittman, it’s just nice to see Campbell finally figuring out the NFL game. Campbell, as mentioned prior in this piece, also almost broke his expected game in a deep pass from Ehlinger that was broken up with pass interference. It’s clear the Colts can continue to lean into their wide receiver depth, but hopefully, this offense can round the edges before their next game.
Debbie Downer masterclass.