Washington Commanders
Game #6: at San Francisco
Old Kezar Stadium was the home of the San Francisco 49ers from 1946-1970. The 49ers were a part of the All America Football Conference until 1950 when the Conference folded. There were some twists and turns at the end of the AAFC’s run. Buffalo had a decided advantage in attendance over a number of the teams. But, the Owner cashed out and joined the Cleveland Browns as a minority Owner. The Miami Seahawks became the Baltimore Colts. But, they lasted only as long as the 1950 season. 3-years later the League gave Baltimore a second chance with the remnants of the Dallas Texans. All through the AAFC years the 49ers were solid. They lost the final Championship Game to the Browns (who won all four of them). Kezar was a rough place to play per opposing players. The field was often in poor shape. And, the seagulls were omnipresent late in games. Artie Donovan claimed that the birds were expert dive bombers. San Fran closed the building with a loss to Dallas in the Conference Championship Game. They spent 43-years at Candlestick Park before moving some 38-miles to just south of the Bay at Levi’s Stadium. This has been some week, eh? It started with the collective Burgundy-and-Gold nation screaming at their TV sets, “What are you doing?!!!” By the end of the week everyone in the organization short of the Water Boys were claiming that the snafu at the end of the Giants’ game was “On Me.” In the meantime the Sports Talk Radio and TV Talking Heads had drawn and quartered Head Coach Dan Quinn. It was a lot of mob mentality on full display. And, if you dared venture into the message boards the commentariat was looking for an even harsher fate, if one is possible for…
…If You Will
If you are old enough then you may have watched “The Twilight Zone” on TV. Rod Serling was the show’s creative genius. Famous for his taciturn delivery between clenched teeth and his skinny black ties Serling had the knack of altering reality just enough that it didn’t elicit dismissal. His twists and turns at the end of episodes were dizzying. Rod had seen heavy fighting in the Pacific as a member of the 511th Paratroopers. It was labelled the “Death Squad” for the high number of casualties. When taking back Manila his regiment suffered 50% casualties. He himself was wounded. Combat impacted him immensely as he fought with flashbacks and what we would now call PTSD for the rest of his life. It showed in his writing. Sunday’s WFT football game ending was pure Rod Serling: A sharp and unexpected twist at the end that had a foot in reality and one in the ethereal at the same time. Rod Serling would have been proud of that one. “Imagine if you will…” indeed. Left to our imaginations not 2-people out of a million would have picked the ending for last week’s uber-important game with the New York Football Giants. Maybe not even one. It was that weird. It was that unthinkable. It was beyond what would be considered conceivable. You saw it. You can not un-see it. Bewilderment ruled the late afternoon. That sensation has set up shop. It will take more than a few days for its reign to end. Nixing Zapruder If you want to watch the whole spectacle of that last 50-seconds the links are out there in force. If you want the Zapruder tape frame-by-frame breakdown then sorry to disappoint. That stuff is out there in inconceivable volume. “Attaboys last a minute. (Screw) Ups last a…
Game #5: Giants
Jimmy Patton (20), Alex Webster (29), and Ray Wietecha (55) leave the field at Yankee Stadium circa 1956. The Giants had played at the Polo Grounds from their inception in 1925 though the 1955 season. They would play in Yankee Stadium from 1956-1973 before moving out of the city. Two years at the old Yale Bowl followed by a year at Shea Stadium took place before the new Giants Stadium in New Jersey was ready. The Burgundy and Gold would find Yankee Stadium to be a house of horrors going 3-10-1 in games there. For a season still quite young this one has had a “Close but no cigar” game, a real downer, followed by a major upset win, only to be followed by another real downer. That’s a lot of whiplash for only four games. Yet, a win today could put the WFT right into the mix of a Division race unlike what was envisioned. A loss probably cements things to the cellar for at least the next month. It’s that stark of a dichotomy. NFC (L)east Pre-season predictions are often comical if revisited during and after the season. For this year the Eagles were supposed to easily win their fourth Division Championship in six-years. They may still win it. But, the “easily” part is gone. Philly has lost their last two-games. Losing to the Rams is not a mark of shame. The Rams, despite some mis-firings of their own are still a solid Super Bowl contender. The Eagles do not appear to be at the moment. Trading away AJ Brown brought an epoch of futility to the Tennessee Titans. When Howie Roseman traded away Brown this spring did he wonder if it would do the same to his Eagles? In 2024 the passing game of Philadelphia was moribund…
Laundry Day
The NFL is setting records for penalties this year. Some 963-penalties have been accepted through 64-games this season. That works out to 15 per game. The Indianapolis/ Washington tilt this past weekend only had 11-penalties. The rub was that 10 of them were called against Washington. Thankfully that was the only overseas trip for the Burgundy and Gold this season. The faithful that made the trip had a good time…until the game got underway. Washington’s Defense came out of the chute like a Rodeo Bull; full of menace and mayhem. It didn’t last. The Offense couldn’t punch in Touchdowns on two close trips. If the old Spider Sense kicked in as you watched those 7-points turn into 3-pointers it should have. That unrequited early momentum stuff is always an ominous sign. In this case it the foreboding was realized in full. “Medic” At some point the League is going to have to come to grips with the fact that the modern version of the game is close to being beyond the capabilities of the human body. The “Injury Lists” are staggering. Some 4-weeks in some 54 different Quarterbacks have thrown a pass. That’s 1.7 per team. Washington has now contributed 3-QBs to the list. The total will grow to the mid-60s by the end of the season. Tottenham Hotspur stadium is a beauty. It even has the retractable grass much like Phoenix’ facility. It allows the grass to be outside getting sunshine apart from the partially covered roof. For what Americans call Soccer the grass is in the stadium. In fact, when the World Cup was in North America artificial-surfaced stadiums placed turf on the floors. FIFA won’t allow their lads to play on plastic in a tournament. It was not a problem. There are no shortage of pics of…
Game #4: Colts in London
For 30-years the Baltimore Colts and the Washington Redskins shared the same geographical area. Washington was in the Eastern Division. Baltimore was in the Western Division as a result of League reorganization following the absorption of teams from the All-America Football Conference. The two played a yearly tilt from Baltimore’s inclusion into the League in 1953 until 1968. Washington took it on the chin in all but 3 of the 15-games. The Colts would win back to back League Championships in 1958 and 1959 under Weeb Ewbank. Washington would have only 3-winning seasons during that run. Ironically Weeb coached the 1969 Jets to a Super Bowl victory over the same Colts. By 1983 Washington had lost two baseball franchises and the Colts had moved to Indiana. The Colts have retired 8-jersey numbers. Only one of them is from the Indianapolis era; Peyton Manning. The season moves near the Quarter-Pole this week. Washington should have a little pep in their step following a well-earned upset of the defending World Champions last week. They are going to need it. The guys in the desert have decided the Indianapolis Colts are more than a Field Goal favorite. One can never forget that the League is a week-to-week experience. Last week both of these teams were 0-2 staring down the barrel of a 0-3 playoff death sentence. Both won home games. Both are in Divisions that will, most likely, only send one team to the post-season. Both have a major incentive to win this week. This should be a very competitive affair. A Brief Exhale Washington’s win last week provided the opportunity to exhale for a minute. A week earlier the wheels were off of the cart; a storm was right on top of them; and the sniping toward the Afterguard was halfway up…
Alive and Kicking
If life operated the way it should a tribute game would go the way of the home team. In a world where things don’t often go the good way the result this past Sunday was extremely welcomed. The WFT recognized their past heroes lost this year to time. Gathered were the stars of decades ago. It was with many misty eyes that we saw John Riggins, Joe Jacoby, Joe Theismann, and honorary Captains Art Monk, and Billy Kilmer. They are old and they look it. The day was designed to honor two greats. It rained. The team was given no chance to win prior to kickoff. But the backup Quarterback captured some of Sonny’s magic. And, a sixth-round Linebacker on one of his first plays intercepted a ball for a touchdown. It was fitting. Monte Coleman was the 289th pick of the 1979 Draft: Medrano was the 205th pick last year. The net result was a win over the reigning World Champions. In the end it was a completely fitting tribute. Football consumers are subjected to endless attempts at programming. Gambling is a business built on probabilities. There are computers that will run Monte Carlo calculations about the odds of not only game outcomes, but personal performances within a game. Like any other computational operation the old rule that “Garbage In equals Garbage Out” often applies. Human beings defy conventional wisdom on a constant basis. So, after being told all week that the Burgundy and Gold had less chance than a snowball in a hot place on Sunday…they went out and won the game. As Warner Wolf used to say; “If you had Seattle and 7-points, you lost!” Once again conventional wisdom comes up short. Follow the Plan Last week in the Game Day article we detailed a five-point plan…
Victory Monday after a MAJOR Upset!
The Backup Heroes: Mariota and Medrano Power Commanders’ Stunning Upset The Washington Commanders first home game of 2026 turned Northwest Stadium into a madhouse on Sunday, delivering a 33-31 stunner over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Entering the game depleted by injuries and missing starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington relied on a “next man up” mentality. Head Coach Dan Quinn rewarded that fierce effort post-game by handing out two well-deserved game balls to his standout backup performers: quarterback Marcus Mariota and linebacker Kain Medrano. Mariota Commands the Offense with Veteran Poise Stepping into the starting role with Daniels sidelined by an elbow injury, Marcus Mariota put on a veteran clinic in game management and poise. Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns, posting a stellar 110.0 passer rating without committing a single turnover. He orchestrated crucial scoring drives off early Seattle turnovers, finding Terry McLaurin and Treylon Burks for first-half scores. When the game hung in the balance late in the fourth quarter, Mariota used his legs to seal the win, escaping for a heroic 9-yard scramble on third-and-7 to ice the clock. Reflecting on the gritty, short-handed victory, Head Coach Dan Quinn praised the collective fight: “It wasn’t perfect by any stretch — we had to overcome penalties and other things — but I think it does show some of the resolve.” The Big Defensive Plays There were three official turnovers and one key stop on a 4th down play. Here are the details of each: First-Quarter Fumble: Amik Robertson and Sonny Styles forced a fumble early on, setting up Marcus Mariota ‘s opening touchdown pass. Third-Quarter Interception: Defensive tackle Tim Settle tipped a pass right into the hands of Sonny Styles for an interception, leading to a Terry McLaurin touchdown. Fourth-Quarter…
Game #3: Seattle
Hall of Famer Steve Largent hauls in one of his 819-receptions. His career spanned from the beginning of the franchise in 1976 through 1989. He was the leading receiver on the team for all but the last two-years of his tenure in Seattle. This was before a Salary Cap and wide-open Free Agency began. It would be hard to imagine such a star Receiver remaining with one franchise in the current environment. Here come the World Champions. You didn’t think this thing was going to get easier, did you? If there was any solace looking at this game it was that starting Quarterback Sam Darnold would be on the sideline in street clothes. That was somewhat misplaced hope from the starting gun. His backup, the much maligned Drew Lock is the backup there. He’s throwing completions at a rate of 72.9%; has 4-Touchdowns; has 0-Interceptions; and has been sacked twice in 52-Dropbacks for a rate of 1-Sack every 26-Dropbacks. Those are fine numbers. Honestly, Darnold would be hard-pressed to do better. Oh, and the Defense? It’s #2 in the League. They’ve allowed all of 17-points while Lock’s Offense scored 44-points. Yikes! This is tough terrain the WFT is entering…with a backup QB. Home Opener Washington is one of only 5-teams to not have a home game in the first two weeks. It joins Cleveland, Green Bay, Miami, and New Orleans in that category. All five get their delayed home schedule started this week. The League should do better to get every team a home game in the first two-weeks. If we’ve learned nothing this year so far we’ve learned that the trajectory for teams can go South quick, fast, and in a hurry. Exhibit A is our Washington Football Team. Exhibits B and C are out there NY Giants, and…
Nice Things Not Allowed
The good ship Washington hard aground on a shoal. In sports hopes and dreams come easily. They evaporate over time or are vaporized quickly. Only rarely are they requited. John Madden once said that the longer a team goes into the playoff run before being eliminated the more it hurts when they lose. What, then if the dagger comes at the very beginning with the season still in infancy? Both scenarios end up in the same boat. But, they are far different experiences. Sadly, the former is unfamiliar. The latter is like an old pair of shoes. There’s little thought required to slip into them. Manic Monday There’s little use in going through numbers this week. The only numbers that matter are 37-20. Another loss in Dallas. September has been traditionally their month to shine and summons Super Bowl aspirations. Dak Prescott has serious ownage on Washington to the tune of 20-Touchdowns and 0-interceptions at home. So, if left to simply read the final score there’s hardly any shock value. But, then there’s Jayden Daniels prone on the plastic turf. Three-seconds to go in the first half, an Offense that has sprung to life, the ball on the 3-yard line. What to do? Coaches send messages to their players in various ways. One is that he trusts his charges to get those yards. Success then brings confidence. Failure plants doubt. It was high risk and high reward all the way. The game wasn’t on the line. But, Dallas would have been shook to have dominated early only to see it all evaporate. Washington was getting the ball to start the second-half. In Quinn’s mind there were two possible outcomes; success or failure. Seeing his star QB on the field writhing in pain was not on the option list…except in invisible…
Game #2: At Dallas
The 96-year old Cotton Bowl Stadium was the home of the Dallas Cowboys from their beginnings in 1960 until 1971. The stadium, also known as “The House that Doak Built” opened in 1930. Doak Walker and his Southern Methodist University team in the 1940’s built such ticket demand that the stands were expanded. The End Zones previously had only the lower bowl. Washington played Dallas 12-times in the old ball yard with a final record of 4-6-2. A Washington win on October 3, 1971 with a 20-16 Final Score was the next to last Cowboys’ game at the stadium before the team moved to Texas Stadium. The football season comes at you fast. We’re approaching Week#2 and the “Code Red” panic buttons are only one more loss away. You’re going to hear this stat soon if not already. So, let’s get it out of the way: Teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs about 11% of the time. Them be some bad odds right there. It’s just the math of the situation. Add in that this game is a Division Game, on the road, against “America’s Team,” and the realization sets in that this is a stiff hill to climb for the Burgundy and Gold. Add in the backdrop of a fanbase still in a state of trauma after the Snyder years and it’s quite the pot of stew cooking on the stove. Oh, and there’s the militant wing of WFT Nation wanting heads placed on pikes outside the castle gate. They’re licking their chops. Against that background it’s time to play Dallas. “Must Win”? This phrase is going to get thrown around. It’s best to just tackle it head on. Is it a “Must Win.” No. Not “Must.” But, a loss would not be inconsequential either. It would probably…
A Rorschach Test Loss
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA has been none to generous to the Burgundy and Gold. It hasn’t been a complete house of horrors either. As it stands right now the WFT record at “The Link” is 11-15 since it opened in 2003. The last 5-games there the record is 1*-4. The asterisk for the 1-win is because it was the last game of the season in 2025. PHI was resting starters. Washington had a legitimate chance to steal a win away on Sunday. It didn’t happen. What to make of it is the water cooler topic of the week. Football is more like a box of chocolates than life itself. You really never know what you’ll get when the box is opened on Game Day. On Sunday Washington and Philadelphia made a strong case for not approaching Pre-Season the way that is currently fashionable. The two teams looked like it was their first time playing at game speed together. Oh, wait, that’s because they had not. Sean McVay started this trend when he declared the pre-season to be useless. You may take note that his team got boat-raced in their Opener. It will be blamed, of course on all the travel to Australia. That may be just a cheap coat of paint, however. A few teams were ready to go this last weekend. Most were not including these two. But, and it’s a big one, contrary to breathless media handwringing last week the team did not get smoked by Philly. It turned into a competitive game late. The two-point conversion failed. Sports Talk Radio in Washington will have a lot of fun this week spitting out venom. Was it really all that bad? Out of Synch The beginnings of David Blough ‘s Offensive Coordinator career had an ominous feel during…
Game #1: At Philadelphia
Eagles’ Fullback Ted Dean shoots a large gap in the Green Bay line during the 1960 Championship Game, December 26, 1960 at Franklin Field. Philadelphia would grab their third NFL Championship that day winning a tight one at 17-13. The losing Head Coach was Vince Lombardi. Sonny Jurgensen, all of 26-years old was on that team. But, he did not play a down. Norm Van Brocklin was the Quarterback. He had a decent enough day: 9 of 20 passes completed for 204-Yards with 1-Touchdown and 1-Interception. He fumbled twice, but recovered both. For Washington fans it turned out that Sonny on the bench was a good thing. Confidence is high that Sonny would have had a better day. It may have made the trade to Washington impossible. Sonny would come to Washington in 1964. This season will be our first without him since. Finally real football is here. It’s not Reporters’ notes from “Offseason Training Activities” or Camp Practices. And, it is certainly not Pre-Season “Football.” (The product there is beyond bad.) It’s real football that really counts…but, odds are it won’t be great quality football. The approach to the lead up to the Regular Season is largely Installs and Rehearsals. Few to no teams are doing anything approximating a game with all the attendant demands. So September sees a lot of players hitting a wall of sorts part way through the game. It’s already manifested itself in the two pre-weekend games. Honest-to-goodness good football won’t start until a couple of weeks into October on a wide scale. Problem is that by then there are a few games on the ledger. This one today on the road against the Eagles is no exception. No Sense Waiting There’s not going to be any wait before the Burgundy and Gold get a…