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The Washington Football Team has had a few highlight reel plays so far in the first half, but they are still trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 9-7 after two quarters. Joe Burrow has had no trouble moving the ball on Washington's defense(except when he tries scrambling into the end zone, hi Chase Young!). Washington has been helped by Bengals Kicker Randy Bullock missing 2 FGs and an XP.
Cincinnati gets the ball back in the 3rd quarter, and Washington's defense will need to do a better job stopping the quick passing game, and a running game that is picking up yards in chunks. The offense had one big play to Terry McLaurin, but will need to move the ball better in the 2nd half if they actually want to win this game.
Opening drive:
Jon Allen out for the coin toss. Bengals call tails and win. Washington starts with the ball.
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) November 22, 2020
Check down Alex:
First play is a checkdown to Antonio Gibson for a 10-yard pickup.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 22, 2020
A couple of quick throws from Smith, first to Thomas and then to Cam Sims. 3rd-and-short coming.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 22, 2020
Drive-ending sack:
Smith sacked on opening 3rd down. Morgan Moses playing LT today, cuts off rush to the edge but allows DE to get long-arm on inside pec, which enables him to adjust and beat Moses inside. pic.twitter.com/qbSo1BnfEL
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
It looked like Alex Smith had Terry McLaurin on a slant on 3rd&2 and chose not to fire the ball into a tight window. Then he got sacked. He came into the game with the lowest aggressiveness % of any QB in NFL. #WashingtonFootball
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 22, 2020
And with Washington going three and out on its first drive, we get our first look at No. 1 overall pick QB Joe Burrow versus No. 2 pick DE Chase Young.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
The WFT continues to remain the only team in the league to not score points on its opening drive.
Linebackers:
Wash opened with Holcomb and Kevin Pierre-Louis at LB in their nickel package
— John Keim (@john_keim) November 22, 2020
On that first drive, Washington only played two LBs: Cole Holcomb and Kevin Pierre-Louis.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) November 22, 2020
Jon Bostic, who's played nearly 100 percent of the defensive snaps this season, did not appear. D didn't play base the entire time, but it's notable Holcomb was the MIKE instead of Bostic.
Joe Burrow is moving the Bengals offense:
3rd and 2 on Bengals opening drive. Get a nice pick play vs man coverage to get the TE up the sideline. Kam Curl attempted to adjust and get back outside to bail out the LB, but neither could prevent the 1st down. pic.twitter.com/NfsL5mu0ZV
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
On third down, Joe Burrow hits Drew Sample for 18. Curl beat on the play.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 22, 2020
Ronald Darby makes a play:
Nice job by Ronald Darby to get back and impact the catch for the receiver. Kam Curl is his help inside, but Curl drives down on the crosser underneath. Darby makes up a ton of ground to contest the catch. pic.twitter.com/mWXBcJASkK
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Really, really good play on the ball by Ronald Darby as the Bengals took a deep shot to Tee Higgins in the end zone. Didn't make contact early, batted the ball away to prevent a potential touchdown
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Tyler Boyd makes a circus catch:
That was a massively impressive catch by Tyler Boyd. Cincy now at Washington's 21-yard line.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 22, 2020
Kevin Pierre-Louis blows up a Tee Higgins screen:
Nice open-field tackle by Kevin Pierre-Louis for the loss of five yards on first down. Bengals just outside of the red zone
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Washington stops the drive, Bengals FG is no good:
Solid pressure from Washington on 3rd and 4. Young does well off the edge while Allen works inside to prevent Burrow from stepping up and into the throw. Burrow does a good job getting the ball out quickly, but ball incomplete. pic.twitter.com/KaehZ5s4wJ
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Chase Young was close to knocking ball out of Burrow's hand on the third down incompletion. Cincy follows that up with a missed Randy Bullock FG! Score is still tied at zero.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) November 22, 2020
Washington's defense bends, but doesn't break on the first drive. Randy Bullock's kick is no good. Still a tied game.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 22, 2020
J.D. McKissic time:
J.D. McKissic picks up 14 yards on a reverse in a two-back set.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 22, 2020
Terry McLaurin is very good at football:
.@TheTerry_25 is good at football
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 22, 2020
#CINvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/tDPsRkCgOP
CAN’T GUARD TERRY
— PFF (@PFF) November 22, 2020
pic.twitter.com/GAjRjUTsSg
Here's the replay all-22 angle of the McLaurin catch. Runs a deep post. FS takes the bait of the crosser from the far side, leaves McLaurin 1-on-1. Smith takes the shot and McLaurin pulls off a fantastic catch. pic.twitter.com/Bc9N3mkWZ5
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Logan Thomas sneak!:
Feel like this one is a @MarkBullockNFL special. #WashingtonFootball with some trickery as TE Logan Thomas runs the sneak. pic.twitter.com/bzFkqiqmVz
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 22, 2020
Scott Turner's red zone trick play works this week. Motions TE Logan Thomas under center to take the snap for a QB sneak. Can only imagine the reaction if it hadn't worked like the McKissic end-around last week.... pic.twitter.com/HWMo6je96c
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Ohhh a little trickeration. Logan Thomas goes in motion with Alex Smith in shotgun, and took the direct snap two yards for the first down
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Antonio Gibson scores the first TD:
2⃣4⃣ with the score‼️@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/FuKtJEdalw
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 22, 2020
Antonio Gibson (@AntonioGibson14) caps off a solid #WashingtonFootball drive with the touchdown run.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 22, 2020
Alex Smith and Terry McLaurin linked up for a 42 yard gain on the drive to get the Bengals on their heels. pic.twitter.com/PxEJ4G2s5W
Antonio Gibson. Plows into the end zone. Execution in the red zone. That was the difference last week against the Lions. Washington is on a good track to fixing that in the first quarter with the score 7-0.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 22, 2020
That’s the 8th rushing TD for Gibson - most amongst rookies!! #WashingtonFootball
— Julie Donaldson (@juliedonaldson_) November 22, 2020
Thomas Davis Sr.:
Washington, still in subpackages, has two new LBs on this possession: Jon Bostic and Thomas Davis.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) November 22, 2020
This is Davis' first action since Week 5. Not sure what's happening with the LB corps right now.
There's a lot going on with Washington's linebackers. Like a revolving door through the first quarter. We've seen Kevin Pierre-Louis and Cole Holcomb, Jon Bostic and Thomas Davis, wondering if we'll see Shaun Dion Hamilton the way things are going
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Rivera challenge:
Washington loses the challenge of whether AJ Green got both feet down on that reception on the sideline
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Ronald Darby saves another TD:
Would love to get a replay of this play, Not sure how Darby ends up tracking that route across the field while Apke remains in the middle, but good thing he did. Nice job again getting his hand in at the catch point and breaking up the pass. 2 TDs saved by Darby so far pic.twitter.com/xpATDAb7NX
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Ronald Darby doing a great job so far this game tracking down balls. Saves another potential touchdown with a pass deflection in the end zone
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
2nd Quarter
1st quarter stats:
That's the end of the first quarter.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 22, 2020
Alex Smith: 5-5 for 62 yards
Burrow: 12-15 for 111 yards
Joe Burrow vs Chase Young:
Bengals go read-option. Young crashes down inside on the run but Burrow pulls it. Washington probably meant to have a defender scrape to the edge to replace him outside for the QB keep option, but nobody did it. pic.twitter.com/wQ1NyihXuy
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Burrow wins that round. Chase Young ran right past him, allowing Burrow to run free for a nice gain. 1st-and-goal
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 22, 2020
Oh man, that was a good fake by Joe Burrow. Chase Young was right there in the backfield, but he ran right by Burrow, who picked up the first.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Very next play, Young comes off the edge and swallows the running back on the run.
Ronald Darby just misses the goalline INT:
Near INT for Darby. Great read on the route, drove down on it and was in a great position to take it away, but WR nudged him off the spot at the last second, caused him to drop it. pic.twitter.com/yvSj7CKnC6
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Darby with a great start to this game, but could have made a great INT there
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 22, 2020
I know Ronald Darby is going to be sick about that. Read the slant the WHOLE way. Had the INT, and dropped it. I can hear Chris Harris screaming, "So you don't like nice things?!"
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
4th and goal:
Bengals go for 4th and Goal from the 3 after Burrow nearly throws a pick...
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 22, 2020
... but first, a timeout. Cincy appeared disorganized at LOS.
Chase Young vs Joe Burrow:
Chase Young just murdered Joe Burrow. pic.twitter.com/nWAUu50AmV
— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) November 22, 2020
Crazy play here. Chase Young makes incredible play to chase down Burrow and force a fumble. Washington recovers, then fumbles again before recovering again in the end zone. Was ruled a safety after the 2nd recovery, but holding brings it all back. pic.twitter.com/MV2FFO0yOm
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
This is a SICK angle of the Chase Young hit on Burrow from the @WashingtonNFL’s Insta pic.twitter.com/gRvzeg0cHj
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) November 22, 2020
A lot going on. Looks like Burrow fumbled trying to extend the ball. Got hit hard by Chase Young and Troy Apke and looks like Washington recovered along the sideline. There is a flag on the play
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Under review:
“How is 2020 going?” pic.twitter.com/CUb0oeh8pG
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 22, 2020
A look at the touchback in #CINvsWAS: pic.twitter.com/oVTHxbxMax
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) November 22, 2020
Holding on the play against the Bengals on the play. But what they're saying is Burrow fumbled, WSH recovered. It was advanced, fumbled again, recovered by another WSH in the endzone, and because they were tackled there, it was a safety. A ton to process. WSH is accepting penalty
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
The offense is coming back on the field. Officials ruled that Curl never had possession, so it's a touchback rather than a safety.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 22, 2020
3 and out:
And after all that, Washington goes three-and-out.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 22, 2020
Chase Young vs Joe Burrow:
Chase Young nearly had an interception. Will settle for a batted pass.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 22, 2020
Roughing the passer:
This was called a facemask/roughing-the-passer on Daron Payne.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) November 22, 2020
I gotta be honest; I don't see a penalty here at all.
Feels like the officials saw Burrow's helmet come off and guessed. #WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/5nUvj74hUw
Bengals finally score:
Not bad coverage here by Fuller, just fantastic placement by Burrow and Green using his size to hold off Fuller while catching away from his body. pic.twitter.com/BezdFehfnE
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
This was such a good throw by Burrow. Pressure in his face, delivered a great throw. Only Green could make a play on the ball. He did, TD. pic.twitter.com/wIBhsez7Et
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
And Joe Burrow is able to get the pass off with pressure in his face.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Delivers to AJ Green, who extends it over the goal line, with Kendall Fuller in coverage for the score.
The XPT is no good, and Washington still leads, 7-6.
Washington's defense needs to adjust:
Coverage so bad that the DL has zero chance of getting home. Ball coming out fast because... coverage so bad.
— John Keim (@john_keim) November 22, 2020
Washington needs to switch it up from quarters coverage. Makes it safer against the deep shot, sure. But Bengals are happy taking the flat, which is always open in quarters.
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Jack Del Rio is making this way too easy. Lots of zone. Giving Burrow a ton of room underneath. Open receivers at the 0-5 yard range. They're walking down the field each time they get the ball.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 22, 2020
Maybe show him something different?
And of course, the one sack team did get, was called back because of facemask penalty. https://t.co/dT1o8VNkPX
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Kendall Fuller injured?:
Kendall Fuller with the PBU on that play but came up a little gimpy....Something to keep an eye on...Went right off and getting looked at. #WashingtonFootball
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 22, 2020
Fabian Moreau comes in to replace him. https://t.co/9FZOoIImW5
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 22, 2020
Kendall Fuller going in the evaluation tent with the team doc and head trainer.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 22, 2020
Kendall Fuller is out of the medical tent and back with the other DBs on the sideline.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 22, 2020
Randy Bullock kicks 53-yard FG for the lead:
So. Randy Bullock has missed a 34-yard field goal and XPT, but he hits the 53-yard field goal. Washington has its' first deficit of the afternoon, 9-7, with 1:39 left in the half
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Washington's drive ends with a tipped INT:
Smith's throw hits Hunt straight in the helmet. Ball deflects up in the air and gets intercepted by the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/IKNxHfWwPn
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) November 22, 2020
Alex Smith's pass is tipped, and his pass is intercepted just before the half.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
There are 18 seconds left and the Bengals have two timeouts. They also get the ball coming out of the half.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020
Bullock doinks another one:
Bullock's FG has the leg, but doinked off the right upright. Washington trails, 9-7, going into the half.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 22, 2020