Hogs Haven
Washington Post (paywall)
Washington is officially eliminated from playoff contention after perhaps its worst performance of the season in a 31-0 loss to the Vikings.
In the most agonizing sequence of Washington’s 31-0 loss Sunday, Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers gave Daniels a two-handed shove and sent him flying to the ground, where the quarterback landed hard on his previously dislocated left elbow. He lingered for a moment before jogging off the field. After a conversation with trainers on the sideline, Daniels slammed his helmet on the ground. He watched much of the remaining blowout with a towel draped over his head.
Coach Dan Quinn said Daniels could have returned to the game but he opted to keep his franchise quarterback on the sideline as a precaution. Daniels was upset by the decision, Quinn said, but he did not have a say in it.
In a season of lows, the Commanders (3-10) plunged further downward Sunday as they were officially eliminated from playoff contention. They dredged up usual reminders of how and why a year that began with such hope has spiraled out of control. Turnovers. An ineffective defense. Poor execution on third downs. But they discovered new depths of misery, too.
A serious injury to tight end Zach Ertz later in the third quarter only worsened the emotional toll. Ertz limped off the field after taking a crunching hit to his lower body, and Quinn said the team fears he suffered a torn ACL. “To see him go down, I know that was tough on everybody,” McLaurin said.
Yet as the game got out of hand, Minnesota refused to take its foot off Washington’s throat. Already up 24-0, the Vikings continued to throw the ball, then went for it on fourth and goal from the 2. McCarthy hit veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson in the flat, and he bounced off three would-be tacklers and strolled into the end zone to make it 31-0.
ESPN
Ertz was hurt with 2:10 left in the third quarter when he reached for a pass on second-and-11 and was hit in his right leg by safety Jay Ward. Ertz had to be helped off the field and was unable to put pressure on the leg. He was soon carted to the locker room, a towel draped over his head, and was ruled out with the knee injury early in the fourth quarter.
“Early signs say a serious injury,” said Quinn, who added that Ertz will undergo imaging Monday.
Heavy.com
a significant fine from the NFL for Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward.
Ward appeared to destroy the right knee of Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz on an unnecessary low hit in a 31-0 win by the Vikings in Week...
