Game Recap – Washington Commanders at Houston Texans

November 20, 2022

By Noonefromtampa

First Half

The Houston Texans won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. Washington started with a three and out behind a short run on first down by Brian Robinson, a near interception on second down (the defensive back dropped the ball) and an incompletion on third down. After the Tress Way punt, the Texans threw on first down but picked up no yards. Then, Kendall Fuller jumped the route by Brandin Cooks and picked off Davis Mills for a touchdown. Joey Slye converted the extra point after a delay of game penalty. Commanders 7, Texans 0.

After the kickoff, the Texans ran two straight times for a loss of five yards with Jonathan Allen and Casey Toohill getting tackles for losses.  The Texans then tried a third down receiver screen to Chris Moore, picking up on 1 yard.  The Texans were forced to punt again. Washington’s offense continued its sluggish ways, picking only four net yards and an incompletion on third down again, forcing another Way punt.

The Texans went three and out again behind two short runs by Dameon Pierce and a pass to Nico Collins which came up one yard short of the first down. The Commanders opened the next drive with a 19 yard completion from Taylor Heinicke to Terry McLaurin. Washington was able to convert a third and seven into another first down on a 10 yard slant to McLaurin. The drive end after that on an incompletion to Jahan Dotson. The Way punt went into the endzone for a touchback.

The Texans had their best drive of the day so far, they picked up one first down behind a Mills quarterback sneak on third and 1. After that they only picked up two yards before Allen sacked Mills for a nine-yard loss on third down.

Washington responded with their best drive where Robinson picked up 14 yards and then 5 yards on two running plays. Heinicke then hit Dotson for 13 yards for another first down. Scott Turner then mainly with running plays mixed in with a few pass plays. Logan Thomas picked up 20 yards on two catches while Antonio Gibson picked up 14 yards on two running plays. Curtis Samuel did the most damage on two jet sweeps, picking up 8 yards and scoring a 10 yard touchdown. Commanders 14, Texans 0.

After the touchback on the kickoff, Pierce picked up three yards on first down. Then, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat had back-to-back sacks for, each for losses of 7 yards to force another Texans punt. Washington’s offense continued its momentum from the last drive. Three double-digit second down plays helped move the ball into the red zone. Thomas picked up 19 yards on a pass play, Gibson ran for 13 yards and caught a pass for 18 yards down to the Houston five-yard line. Unfortunately, the play calling came apart at that point with the Texans being ready for Heinicke’s planned run which lost two yards. The offense could not convert and Slye kicked the 25 yard field goal.

The Texans had another three and out but the Washington defense got a break on a third down completion which would have given the Texans a first down. Kenyon Green was called for his second holding penalty again Allen. The second third down play only picked up 5 yards of the needed 17 yards after Kamren Curl made the tackle.

After the punt, Trai Turner was called for holding putting Washington into a hole. Gibson picked up 4 yards going into the two-minute warning. After the timeout Heinicke hit McLaurin on successive plays for 17 yards and 9 yards. Heinicke completed passes to Thomas for 17 yards and Cam Sims for 17 yards to the ball into the redzone at the Texans 11 yard line. Washington was only able to pick 5 yards after that and were forced to settled for a 24 yard field goal by Slye.  Commanders 20, Texans 0.

The Texans knelt down the end the half.

Second Half

Houston started on offense after the touchback and had their longest drive of the day. The big play was a 41 yard completion to Cooks who was covered by Jonathan Bostic but Cooks just ran away from him. Mills picked 4 yards on fourth down and three to get the ball down to Washington 11 yard line. John Ridgeway was called for unnecessary roughness for picking up the ball carrier and and slamming him to the turf. The Commanders’ defense held on a goal line stand play in which Sweat sacked Mills for a 7 yard loss on third down. Ka’imi Fairbairn converted a 29 yard field goal. Commanders 20, Texans 3.

Gibson returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards out to the Washington 31 yard line. Washington was able to pick up one first down and move the ball out to near midfield. Washington was unable to convert and third and one.  However, on the fourth down punt it appeared that the Texans jumped offsides, but Camaron Cheeseman was called for a false start that had Washington coaches confused.

The Texans started at their own 6 yard line and picked up 11 yards on third down when Bobby McCain took a bad angle on trying for an interception. The defense came back when Allen sacked Mills again for a 12 yard loss.

Dax Milne returned the punt 16 yards, giving the Commanders the ball at the Houston 46 yard line. After a two-yard run by Gibson, Samuel picked up 10 yards on a shovel pass inside. The next three plays picked up just over 9 yards leaving Washington in a fourth and short at the 34 yard line. Robinson picked up 3 yards for the first down. After a no gain run by Gibson, a high snap caused a nine-yard loss. On third down and 19 to go, Washington elected to have Gibson run the ball for a short gain. Slye then converted the 44 yard field goal. Commanders 23, Texans 3.

On the next drive, Washington held Houston to eight yards on three plays and forced the Texans to go for it on fourth down. Mills hit Cooks for 19 yards. After an incompletion, Mills threw deep to Cooks and the ball was batted away by Benjamin St-Juste but was intercepted by Darrick Forrest, his third of the season. Washington was then able to pick a first down behind an 11 yard run by Robinson to move the ball from the 3 yardline out to the 14.  Washington was unable to move the ball anymore after that and after a third down incompletion punt the ball away.

The Texans started with the best field position of the day at their own 45 yard line. Mills hit Collins for a 22 yard completion. With the Washington defense mainly in a soft zone, the Texans were able to move the ball down the field with short to medium passes. Davis completed passes to Collins for 8 yards, Jordan Akins for 8 yards, Moore for 6 yards and a 10 yarder to Cooks to give the Texans a first and goal. Milles was able to scramble in for the touchdown from the 4 yard line. Commanders 23, Texans 10.

The onside kick was bobbled by Christian Holmes but recovered by Khaleke Hudson at the Houston 42 yard line. Robinson ran twice for six yards and two yards, but on third and 2, Gibson burst through a hole over the right guard for 18 yards, sealing the game for all practical purposes by forcing the Texans to use their final timeout. Washington ran the ball four straight times to run out the clock and win the game.

Final Score: Commanders 23, Texans 10

Game Thoughts

The red zone offense needs some work. Getting just 2 short field goals against a poor defense like the Texans won’t win games against better teams.

The defensive line showed up big today with 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Allen and Sweat had two sacks, and Payne had one. Allen had 3 tackles for loss, and Toohill and Sweat each had two.

Taylor Heinicke didn’t have a great game, going 15 of 27 for 191 yards and no touchdowns; however, he also did not have any turnovers or otherwise really hurt the team.

The offense is finding an identity: it’s a running game. They are playing smash mouth football. Gibson and Robinson (The Sons of Washington, how’s that for a nickname?) combined for 33 carries and 119 yards.

The team is 4-1 with Heinicke at quarterback and now officially in the playoff hunt.