Hogs Haven
Washington broke a 3-game skid and went into the bye week with an 8-5 record
The Commanders entered this game with some key injuries and a lot on the line.
Before the prior week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders still had reasonable hope of winning the division title by beating the Eagles in Week 16 and getting a little help from teams like the Steelers and Ravens. But, with the loss to Dallas dropping the Commanders record to 7-5, any realistic hope of surpassing the 9-2 Eagles in the final 5 weeks of the season were gone.
The playoff focus now shifted to the fight for an NFC wildcard seeing. The competition looked like this in Week 13:
In the hunt:
Washington held the first tie-breaker over the Cardinals, so Arizona would need to finish the season with more wins (or fewer losses) than Washington to overtake them for the #7 seed. On the other hand, Tampa Bay held the tie-breaker over Washington, and could replace the Commanders as the #7 seed if the two teams finished the regular season with identical records.
Every game from now until the end of the season would be crucial to Washington’s playoff hopes.
A win against the Titans today, followed by a Week 14 bye to get healthy and prepare for a road trip to New Orleans, would put the Commanders in a relatively strong position entering the final 4 games of the regular season. Conversely, a loss to the Titans, extending the Commanders’ losing streak to 4 games, followed by a week off to brood over what might have been, would likely find Washington on the outside looking in when the traveled to New Orleans for the first of a series of ‘must win’ games to keep any playoff hopes alive.
This game against the 3-8 Titans, who beat the Texans on the road in Week 12 by a score of 32-27, was critical to the Commanders’ 2024 season.
Tennessee offense opens with a 3 & out to set the tone for the game
The Titans opened with 2 false start penalties, a stuffed run for no gain, and a screen pass for a loss to bring up 3rd & 22 at the 16-yard line. The Commanders defense looked good early! On 3rd down, Will Levis tried to escape pressure and ran right into Frankie Luvu, who slammed him as Levis loosed the ball for an incomplete pass.
Commanders score the first of 5 straight offensive touchdowns
Following the 50-yard punt and 7-yard return, Jayden Daniels led his offense onto the field at the 41-yard line. On Washington’s 3rd play from scrimmage — 2nd & 1 — Brian Robinson took a handoff on a GT-pull to the right, and romped 40 yards for a walk in...
