The Washington Commanders will finish the 2024-2025 season with a winning record for the first time since 2016. That in itself should be reason to celebrate on this Victory Monday as Washington is now 9-5 on the season after this 20-19 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The issue is that Washington narrowly won, and it never should have been that close. At halftime, the Commanders were pitching a 14-0 shutout, and then their offense stalled and only managed two field goals for all of their scoring in the second half. With no time on the clock, the Saints were a 2-point conversion from winning the game. Fortunately, they did not connect on that play, and Washington left New Orleans with a victory.
On one hand you celebrate the victory and Washington’s control of a Wild Card spot with three games to go, but on the other hand, you have to question the missed opportunities and some questionable coaching decisions.
Some background, kicker Zane Gonzalez was placed on the inactive list and the newly acquired Greg Joseph took over the kicking duties. Joseph would be the Commanders third kicker of the season and on his fourth team this year after not making the Packers and Lions squads then he was cut by the Giants on Nov. 7 and picked up on Washington’s practice squad on Friday. The 30-year-old kicker from South Africa has been playing professionally since 2018. But before Sunday’s game, his record of kicking field goals at 50+ yards was just 58 percent going 17-for-29.
Going for the field goal was the highest leverage coaching decision of the game with the Commanders at the Saints’ 36-yard line and a 4th down situation in a 20-13 game at the 2-minute warning in the 4th quarter. The field goal attempt would be 53-yards or you punt it and pin New Orleans deep near their goal line with probably 1:52ish on the clock if you punt and just one timeout.
Out of the 2:00 minute timeout, head coach Dan Quinn had plenty of time to think this over. He decided to go for it with a kicker with only a 58 percent success rate in his career in those situations — but were any of his prior successes in field goal attempts with this much pressure? Drill down further to the analytics of how Joseph kicks in the highest leverage spots. We don’t have those analytics but you would hope Quinn knew those stats when making his decision.
Regardless, even a 58 percent success rate isn’t good versus the league average of 71 percent. This wasn’t worth the risk because if you miss the field goal, you give the Saints great field position, just seven yards from the 50-yard line. Quinn decided to go for the field goal and Quinn Joseph missed wide right. The Saints marched down the field and scored a touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.
After the game, Quinn had this to say about the decision to go for the field goal:
If not for the Saints botched 2-point conversion as the final play of the game, Washington would have lost. Fortunately, Washington won. Sports radio was abuzz with criticism for play calls, play execution, second half defense, and the referees.
The referees botched some crucial calls in the game like a clock stoppage that would have ended the game at a final score of 20-13, and there was also a clear pass interference that this officiating crew didn’t call. This crew called anything close on Washington all game that resulted in 9-penalties for 84 yards while the Saints were only flagged for 4-penalties for 36 yards.
On the bright side, Jayden Daniels was nearly perfect in the game going 25-31 for 225 yards with two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin. Also, Daniels was the leading rusher with 66-yards on 11 carries.
Obviously every game is a learning experience. A major criticism of Quinn was that he makes decisions that have analysts wondering if he really thought through the whole scenario. You have to think he consulted with his special teams coach Larry Izzo. Maybe they asked Joseph how he felt about the kick. Sometimes the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Enjoy your Victory Monday.
