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Washington made a lot of plays, and controlled the ball for most of the 1st half. That didn’t translate into points as they continue to squander their opportunities. Washington drove down to the red zone on the opening drive, but after two big losses, they punted the ball instead of going for a 54 yard FG. It didn’t get much better from that point and they only scored one FG in the first half. Their final drive ended on Terry McLaurin’s first fumble in the NFL...
1st Quarter
Alex Smith’s first start in 728 days
Washington yet to score on its opening possession this season. Is ninth time a charm? https://t.co/fZgL7u1Z13
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 15, 2020
Peyton Barber getting work early:
Peyton Barber took the first two snaps at RB for Washington. Antonio Gibson in now
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
Isaiah Wright sighting:
1st completion from Smith, McLaurin clears the middle of the field with his route, vacates space for Isaiah Wright to break into. Nice ball for a 1st down. pic.twitter.com/vITcCk1rJa
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Smith's first pass is a strike to Isaiah Wright for 22 yards. Right on the money.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 15, 2020
All the RBs:
Scott Turner got J.D. McKissic motioning all over the place presnap.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
First time we've seen all three RBs on the field....
— John Keim (@john_keim) November 15, 2020
Opening drive failures continue:
2nd and 2 end around doesn't work for Washington. Back side DE didn't bite and worked up the field. Hope would have been for the end to crash down the line on the initial hand off. pic.twitter.com/cjLV0ItXjd
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Back to the reverse...I think it would have worked if 36-year-old Alex Smith, in his first start after 17 surgeries on his leg, would have made the block.
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) November 15, 2020
Guess that didn't throw up any red flags among the coaches.
Pressure coming off the edge, but Smith couldn't step up because of the pressure coming off the stunt up the middle. He tries to scramble instead of throwing it away, takes a sack that puts Washington out of FG range. pic.twitter.com/FicnbgRywy
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Washington got to Detroit's 14, then lost 24 total yards on a reverse and a sack. Brutal. Tress Way out to punt.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
The scoring drought on their first possession continues ...
Washington goes from 2nd-and-3 on the Detroit 14 to 4th-and-27 from the 38. Just cannot have that sack on third down.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 15, 2020
D’Andre Swift gets the start over Adrian Peterson:
D'andre Swift already has 32 yards on three carries.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 15, 2020
Kendall Fuller allows his first TD of the year:
Looks like Kendall Fuller was anticipating the receiver to work inside. Got his feet messed up as he tried to adjust and widen back outside, fell over. Lions get a 55-yard TD. pic.twitter.com/Y3kqQwZCfq
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Watch the pump fake....I think that's what killed Fuller live..more convinced of it now. https://t.co/b8zNnqAjP2
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 15, 2020
Stafford 55-yard TD pass. Fuller fell in coverage.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 15, 2020
Kendall Fuller called for PI on that TD (declined). It was the first TD he's allowed in coverage this year.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
Terry McLaurin is very good at football:
Washington clearly feels the Lions DEs are vulnerable to crashing inside. Same situation as the McKissic loss. DE left unblocked, he doesn't bite up and McLaurin runs by him. pic.twitter.com/VCK4tetZg8
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Great block from Logan Thomas to spring Terry McLaurin on a jet sweep. 27-yard gain.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 15, 2020
Dustin Hopkins is fine:
And it's good. 38-yard attempt from Hopkins. Washington still trails, 7-3. https://t.co/aXHhG1Fd4v
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 15, 2020
Big roughing the passer penalty:
Instead of being a much-needed sack, this was ruled a 15 yard penalty against Jason Pierre-Louis for lowering the helmet into Stafford.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 15, 2020
What do you think?#WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/WYoV19twfo
Chase Young getting pressure:
Chase Young's pressure forced Matt Stafford out of the pocket before that incompletion that ended the drive. He and Sweat both got pressure off their respective edges. #WashingtonFootball
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 15, 2020
Stafford hurt?:
Matt Stafford getting his hand wrapped. Looked like it was shaking a little as he was asked to extend the hand too. Something to keep an eye on going forward. pic.twitter.com/8ulw1odk9F
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
2nd Quarter
More struggles on offense:
left side of Washington's OL struggled to pick up the stunt on 3rd down. Lucas doesn't pick up the DT working outside, prevents Schweitzer from peeling off in time to get the looping DE pic.twitter.com/dlXWVjvrMV
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Ryan Anderson injured:
Ryan Anderson is on the training table as Dr. Robin West examines his left leg.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
Ryan Anderson is probable to return with a knee injury.
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 15, 2020
Adrian Peterson sightings:
Three straight touches for Adrian Peterson for 26 yards. Lions inside the @WashingtonNFL 30-yard line.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 15, 2020
The other Marvin scores a TD for the Lions:
Yep, exactly what we suspected. Washington playing inverted tampa-2, very tough assignment for Kendall Fuller. pic.twitter.com/NJcM0Ls24S
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Danny Johnson spark?:
Huge special teams play for @WashingtonNFL, as Danny Johnson returns the kick to the 46-yard line.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 15, 2020
Cam Sims makes a big 4th down conversion:
On 4th and 3, @RiverboatRonHC lives up to his name and Alex Smith finds Cam Sims for the first down.#WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/C03cWlSgfC
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 15, 2020
Big miss:
Nice call on 3rd down. Washington has use this exactly look often on 3rd and short to hit McKissic on the quick out for a conversion. This time, turn the out into a out-and-up. Smith had him for a TD, missed the throw. pic.twitter.com/rdxCwQTK10
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 15, 2020
Alex Smith missed an open JD McKissic for a wide open TD. Great design. Great route. Throw was missed.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 15, 2020
Bigger miss:
Dustin Hopkins misses a 43-yarder. He's now 11 of 16 on the year.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 15, 2020
Jonathan Allen shows up:
Jonathan Allen is strong.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 15, 2020
Real strong.
That's it. That's the tweet.#WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/iL5hmtLsZa
It’s been that kind of day:
Terry McLaurin had zero fumbles lost in college or the pros — until today. Wow.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 15, 2020
Lions end the half with a FG:
Washington goes into the half trailing, 17-3, in Detroit. Matt Prater hit the 53 yarder
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 15, 2020