UKHTTW Summary of Week One (vs Chargers)

There are some losses that can still feel like a positive.

The opening day FedEx defeat to the LA Chargers most definitely did not fit that description.

If anything, the narrow margin of defeat might be the only solace for a WFT fan base who were loud and proud in the Redzone pre-game but were soon muted with the Justin Herbert led Chargers strolling down the field for an all too easy opening drive and TD from Austin Ekeler.

The much-vaunted WFT D-Line upfront seemed to get zero push on a Chargers OL that had question marks coming into the season. There was also the slightly baffling rotation of DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat, as, one or the other, was on the sideline at critical moments.

Herbert found his WRs with ease, as the WFT DEF allowed an astonishing 14/19 conversions on third down and was the clear difference maker between the teams.

What the WFT did continue to show from 2020, however, was that uncanny ability to stay in the game – although at times this was more fortuitous (a terrible fumble call on Justin Herbert stood out) than having the talent to match the Chargers man for man.

It was hoped that rookies Benjamin St-Juste and Jamin Davis would have any teething problems in the NFL negated somewhat by the upfront push of Jon Allen, Daron Payne & company. When that was not forthcoming, it set the pattern for Herbert to clinically take apart the mediocre performing LB unit and backfield.

Veteran Landon Collins made few mistakes to be fair; but nor did he set any kind of tone or make any of the kind of hits that were the norm in New York. Fellow veteran DB Kendall Fuller was just straight up bad, although free agent acquisition William Jackson III held his own and had an INT.

None of the WFT rookies would’ve enhanced reputations post-game, in fact, did anyone in burgundy & gold elevate to anything higher than “relatively solid”? Kam Curl had a good first half showing, and Game Day Tay (aka Taylor Heinicke) provided a spark when Ryan Fitzpatrick exited with what might be a bad hip injury.

That’s right folks. For yet again, a Washington QB left the FedEx field injured. The fact it has taken this far into the blog to mention QB1 going down is a) a reflection of the average QB play before the injury and b) how I’m still reeling from the poor showing from the DL.

The deflation felt by this defeat was somewhat compounded by the fact that the WFT could have actually won this game. The ignition provided by Heinicke (11/15 pass completion, 122 yards and a TD with a 119.3 passer rating) had steered Washington to a fourth quarter 16-13 lead.

However, a fumble from RB Antonio Gibson, who played well, but needs to know not every down requires a 10-yard rush, deep in WFT territory near their own end zone negated the Jackson III INT. This error seized upon by Herbert who threw to Mike Williams for the Chargers go-ahead TD.

With 11 minutes still on the clock, there was plenty of time for further scores for either team, but with Herbert showing tremendous poise and the WFT offense spluttering, the Chargers saw out the victory with ease.

There will be the chance for immediate redemption, with an NFC East match up vs the New York Giants on Thursday at the FedEx.

If a repeat performance of Sunday, the burgundy & gold might wish to consider Retrogrades as a fitting new team name, as on this evidence there was little in the way of an enhanced reputation to match the pre-season hype.

During the Rivera tenure, there has, however, usually been strong bounce-back performance from a defeat and the Giants themselves fell short in Week 1 vs Denver. Anything short of a 1-1 record before the road trip to Buffalo would be a very concerning start to the 2021 season.