Hogs Haven
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Commanders defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw drew the biggest fine; the NFL levied a $20,288 punishment because he “swung.” Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen was fined $8,436 for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing and $8,435 because he “swung” ($16,870 total).
Three Commanders defensive backs were also fined: Will Harris was fined $11,593 for grabbing a facemask, Quan Martin was fined $11,572 for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing and Mike Sainristil was fined 9,725 for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing.
The scuffle occurred with 4:26 remaining in the fourth quarter after the Eagles attempted a two-point conversion to take a 29-10 lead.
Riggo’s Rag
The former Illinois standout slotted into the right guard position in Cosmi’s absence. Allegretti looked much more assured than usual, especially given that he was up against Cowboys interior defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. And when another injury inevitably arrived, the player proved his versatility in the line of fire.
Tyler Biadasz left the game with knee and ankle injuries. He did not return, and with no specialist center available to fill the void, the Commanders turned to Allegretti.
It could have legitimately gone either way, but Allegretti was ready for the moment. He communicated well with veteran quarterback Josh Johnson. He kept things ticking over nicely and ensured everyone was on the same page. This wasn’t enough for the Commanders to claw back an early deficit, but a large share of the blame lies with Washington’s inept defense.
What this means for Allegretti’s future remains to be seen. He’s counting $7.17 million against Washington’s salary cap next season. If Chris Paul gets extended, all five starting offensive linemen will return. That would make the Super Bowl winner a relatively expensive backup option, but his versatility and his experience could be enough to get a reprieve.
Riggo’s Rag
With a week of preparation, Johnson looked like a completely different quarterback. He was by no means spectacular, but he played a smart, efficient game and gave Washington a chance to pull out an unlikely victory. They didn’t manage the win, but not because of the signal-caller.
It was apparent from his first throw against the Cowboys that Johnson was going to be much better than he was against Philadelphia. It was a quick out to Treylon Burks, and the veteran could not have appeared calmer.
On that first drive, Johnson looked as good as Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota running the offense. His timing was impeccable, and his throws had zip.
As the game went on, minor deficiencies began to show up. At the end of that first drive, Johnson took an awkward sack on 3rd-and-goal from the three-yard line. He made a couple of mistakes managing a very tight clock at the end of the first half. But these barely mattered.
The two most significant problem areas...
