Carson Wentz’s return to the Commanders’ beginning lineup was a disaster

The Washington Commanders awoke on New Year’s Day with an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot.

Now they could be eradicated by time for dinner.

The Commanders made the choice earlier within the week to return Carson Wentz to the beginning lineup. Wentz, who suffered a finger damage again in Week 6, changed Taylor Heinicke within the second half of Washington’s loss final week to the San Francisco 49ers.

With the advantage of hindsight, the choice to start out Wentz seems like a mistake. He threw three interceptions, and the Washington offense struggled to generate any consistency towards the Cleveland Browns. And as a substitute of being in place to clinch a playoff spot relying on outcomes round the remainder of the NFC, the COmmanders shall be glued to their televisions on this evening, hoping to keep away from elimination.

Wentz’s first interception got here on Washington’s opening drive of the sport. With the Commanders dealing with a third and 6, Wentz appeared to attach with Terry McLaurin on an out route. But as you’ll be able to see from this view of the play, he locks onto McLaurin early within the route, an the ball comes out a step late. That provides Denzel Ward an opportunity to leap the route for the Browns:

Wentz’s second interception got here early within the second quarter. With the Commanders dealing with one other third down, Wentz tries to check the Browns secondary deep.

Cleveland’s protection passes the check:

As with the earlier play, you’ll be able to see Wentz lock onto Curtis Samuel early within the down. Compounding the issues for Washington is the truth that the ball is underthrown, giving Grant Delpit an opportunity to chop beneath the route and make the interception.

Wentz and the Commanders offense would reply, nevertheless, with a protracted landing drive capped off by a Wentz quarterback sneak on fourth down to offer Washington the lead. Wentz made quite a few good throws on the drive, similar to this deep out path to rookie Jahan Dotson to maneuver the chains on third and lengthy:

When the Commanders wanted a giant play on offense, that’s when Wentz threw his third choose of the day. Cleveland took a 24-10 with over 5 minutes remaining on a landing cross from Deshaun Watson to Amari Cooper. Needing to get again into the sport, Washington shifted into hurry-up mode, and drove into Cleveland territory.

But that’s when Wentz made one other mistake:

As you’ll be able to see from this angle, it seems like Wentz has the deep nook route alongside the left aspect of the sphere. Instead, he exams the protection excessive to Dotson, and the throw into double protection is intercepted.

Wentz completed the day having accomplished 16 of 28 passes for 143 yards and no touchdowns, together with the three interceptions. Washington’s 24-10 loss signifies that the Commanders could possibly be eradicated from the playoffs with a Green Bay Packers win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Should Green Bay win that recreation, the Commanders would keep alive for yet one more week.

Regardless of how that unfolds, plainly Washington has nonetheless extra questions surrounding the quarterback place heading into Week 18.

And 2023.