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Washington's defense takes over to help the Commanders rally past the Cardinals 20-16
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Throughout the second half, Montez Sweat looked around at his defensive teammates and asked who was going to be the closer the Washington Commanders needed.
Turned out it was Sweat getting the job done.
The edge rusher strip-sacked Joshua Dobbs late in the first quarter to set up Sam Howell's go-ahead touchdown run as the defense took over the game to help the Commanders rally to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-16 Sunday.
Howell also threw a touchdown pass to compensate for his two turnovers and avoid what would have been an embarrassing season-opening loss in their first game under new ownership.
"We made a lot of great plays to win the game," said defensive tackle Daron Payne, who had a key sack of Dobbs late. “We made the plays when they counted.”
In front of a sellout crowd and with several prominent alumni back to celebrate the start of a new era, the Commanders were sloppy with a pair of turnovers and several penalties along the offensive line that allowed Howell to be sacked six times.
Washington's defense eventually took over and turned the tide. After Sweat's strip-sack allowed the Commanders to take the lead, Abdullah Anderson recovered another fumble by Arizona with under five minutes left.
“Game-changing plays like that definitely get the team going,” Sweat said. "We just got to build on it.”
Howell had a jittery start in his new role as the Commanders' starting quarterback, going 19 of 31 for 202 yards with a 7-yard TD pass to Brian Robinson Jr. and an interception. The second-year pro bounced back from the pick and a fumble late in the second quarter that handed the Cardinals a touchdown, completing four of seven passes after halftime.
“Offensively, we could’ve played a lot better,” Howell said. “Turnovers, penalties, sacks - just a lot of things I think I can do better. Definitely a lot to clean up on the offensive side of the ball.”
Arizona, which is expected to be among the worst teams in the NFL this season, lost Jonathan Gannon's debut as coach. Dobbs, acquired last month in a trade with Cleveland and starting after Gannon refused to name his No. 1 QB leading into the game, was 21 of 33 for 133 yards.
“It’s disappointing not to win and that starts with me,” Dobbs said. “We moved the ball in spurts. We have to do better in the red zone. It’s so hard to get down you have to get seven points. That’s what the game came down to and our two turnovers on offense.”
Commanders coach Ron Rivera gave controlling owner Josh Harris a game ball after the win, and despite disappointment in how the game unfolded said he was thrilled about starting 1-0.
“(The new owners) got their first victory - the first one during the regular season - and it’s something to remember,” Rivera said. “It was a hard-fought game.”
ALUMNI RETURN
Among the former Washington players who made an appearance for the first game with Josh Harris' group in charge were Hall of Famers John Riggins and Champ Bailey and 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III. Nearly 65,000 fans filled FedEx Field in a party atmosphere, some chanting on the concourse goodbyes to former owner Dan Snyder, and many singing the team's fight song in the stands after touchdowns.
“There's a lot better energy,” Griffin said. “The team doesn’t have the distractions. The community is back together.”
INJURIES
Cardinals: TE Zach Ertz had six catches for 21 yards in his return, nine months since having surgery to repair a torn ACL. ... OL Kelvin Beachum (hand) was inactive.
Commanders: Howell and RG Sam Cosmi were each evaluated for a concussion and quickly cleared to play. ... Chase Young was inactive because of a neck injury.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Host the New York Giants in their home opener next Sunday.
Commanders: Visit the Denver Broncos next Sunday.
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Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 28:36 | 31:24 |
1st Downs | 13 | 21 |
Rushing | 4 | 7 |
Passing | 9 | 10 |
Penalty | 0 | 4 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-14 | 4-12 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 210 | 248 |
Total Plays | 58 | 65 |
Avg Gain | 3.6 | 3.8 |
Net Yards Rushing | 96 | 92 |
Rush Attempts | 25 | 28 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.8 | 3.3 |
Net Yards Passing | 114 | 156 |
Comp. - Att. | 21-30 | 19-31 |
Yards Per Pass | 3.5 | 4.2 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-122 | 8-69 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Other | 1 | 0 |
Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
Fumbles - Lost | 3-2 | 2-2 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 5-47.0 | 6-44.3 |
Return Yards | 25 | 31 |
Punts - Returns | 4-24 | 3-10 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 1-21 |
Int. - Returns | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-2 -0% | 2-5 -40% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 1-1 -100% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Dobbs
15 QB
1 FPTS
|
J. Dobbs | 21/30 | 132 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Conner
6 RB
11 FPTS
|
J. Conner | 14 | 62 | 0 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Brown
2 WR
7 FPTS
|
M. Brown | 1 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Moore
4 WR
7 FPTS
|
R. Moore | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dobbs
15 QB
1 FPTS
|
J. Dobbs | 3 | -3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Ingram
30 RB
0 FPTS
|
K. Ingram | 5 | -4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
R. Moore
4 WR
7 FPTS
|
R. Moore | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 31 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Brown
2 WR
7 FPTS
|
M. Brown | 5 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. McBride
85 TE
4 FPTS
|
T. McBride | 2 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 13 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Ertz
86 TE
8 FPTS
|
Z. Ertz | 10 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wilson
14 WR
3 FPTS
|
M. Wilson | 4 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Conner
6 RB
11 FPTS
|
J. Conner | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Pascal
0 WR
0 FPTS
|
Z. Pascal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. White
7 OLB
|
K. White | 5-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wilson
20 CB
|
M. Wilson | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Gardeck
45 LB
|
D. Gardeck | 3-1 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Clark
13 CB
|
K. Clark | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ledbetter
93 DE
|
J. Ledbetter | 3-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Watkins
94 DE
|
C. Watkins | 3-2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Baker
3 SS
|
B. Baker | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Wallace
42 SAF
|
K. Wallace | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thompson
34 DB
|
J. Thompson | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Luketa
43 LB
|
J. Luketa | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Collier
91 DE
|
L. Collier | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Dimukeje
52 LB
|
V. Dimukeje | 2-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Strong
92 DT
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K. Strong | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Pascal
0 WR
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Z. Pascal | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Fotu
95 DT
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L. Fotu | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Barnes
56 LB
|
K. Barnes | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Matthew
35 CB
|
C. Matthew | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Boyd
29 CB
|
K. Boyd | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hamilton
33 CB
|
A. Hamilton | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Collins
25 LB
|
Z. Collins | 0-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Ojulari
18 LB
|
B. Ojulari | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Thomas
97 LB
|
C. Thomas | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Woods
51 LB
|
J. Woods | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Prater
5 K
10 FPTS
|
M. Prater | 3/3 | 54 | 1/1 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
N. Cooney
16 P
|
N. Cooney | 5 | 47.0 | 2 | 56 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
G. Dortch 83 WR
0 FPTS
|
G. Dortch | 4 | 6.0 | 13 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
S. Howell
14 QB
17 FPTS
|
S. Howell | 19/31 | 202 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
B. Robinson Jr.
8 RB
12 FPTS
|
B. Robinson Jr. | 19 | 59 | 0 | 7 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Howell
14 QB
17 FPTS
|
S. Howell | 2 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gibson
24 RB
0 FPTS
|
A. Gibson | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Rodriguez Jr.
23 RB
0 FPTS
|
C. Rodriguez Jr. | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Samuel
4 WR
10 FPTS
|
C. Samuel | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Samuel
4 WR
10 FPTS
|
C. Samuel | 5 | 5 | 54 | 0 | 32 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Thomas
82 TE
8 FPTS
|
L. Thomas | 8 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 19 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dotson
1 WR
9 FPTS
|
J. Dotson | 7 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 14 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. McLaurin
17 WR
5 FPTS
|
T. McLaurin | 4 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 19 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Turner
85 TE
2 FPTS
|
C. Turner | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gibson
24 RB
0 FPTS
|
A. Gibson | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Robinson Jr.
8 RB
12 FPTS
|
B. Robinson Jr. | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. Curl
31 SAF
|
K. Curl | 8-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sweat
90 DE
|