Zuerlein’s kick clinched the Commanders’ sixth straight loss after the Jets blew a 20-point halftime lead and improved Washington’s possibilities of securing a top-three choose in subsequent yr’s draft. Former Maryland kicker Chad Ryland’s last-minute, 56-yard discipline objective to elevate the Patriots to a win over the Broncos on “Sunday Night time Soccer” was one other present; it moved Washington forward of New England and into third-pick place with two video games to go.
For a change, the lengthy snapping wasn’t the issue for Washington’s particular groups; Tucker Addington, who was signed to switch the erratic Camaron Cheeseman final week, was completely enough in his debut. The remainder of particular groups coordinator Nate Kaczor’s unit was a much bigger nightmare than the phrases “some meeting required” at midnight on Christmas Eve.
The Jets blocked a punt on Washington’s second possession after Jermaine Johnson II blew previous Terrell Burgess, who one way or the other entered the day main all particular groups gamers in Professional Bowl votes. The Commanders’ Jamison Crowder misplaced a fumble after a 24-yard return within the second quarter, and Tariq Castro-Fields dedicated an encroachment penalty on a punt later within the first half to present New York a recent set of downs. The Jets capitalized on Castro-Fields’s miscue to take a 27-7 lead.
Hail: Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Commanders operating again Brian Robinson Jr. missed his second consecutive recreation with a hamstring harm, leaving the rookie Rodriguez and Antonio Gibson to choose up the slack within the operating recreation. Rodriguez made probably the most of his alternative. The sixth-round select of Kentucky rushed for a career-high 58 yards on 10 carries, together with his first two NFL touchdowns. Rodriguez demonstrated his energy on his first rating, carrying a number of Jets defenders the ultimate 5 yards on a 12-yard run with a push from his teammates. Rodriguez additionally showcased his athleticism by hurdling a defender on a 16-yard run that arrange Washington’s go-ahead landing within the fourth quarter.
Howell’s receivers didn’t do him any favors. Curtis Samuel dropped Howell’s first move, and Logan Thomas let Howell’s second move slip by his fingers and into the grasp of Jets security Tony Adams for an interception. Samuel tripped on the high of his route on the play that resulted in Howell’s second interception halfway by the third quarter, and that led to Howell being benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett for a second straight week. However Howell’s supporting solid was solely a part of the issue. The second-year quarterback, who has regressed within the second half of the season and wanted a bounce-back efficiency within the worst manner, accomplished simply 6 of twenty-two passes for 56 yards. Brissett moved the ball at will towards New York’s protection, main three straight landing drives.
New York and Washington have been in a giving temper: They mixed for 5 turnovers. Sunday’s recreation featured an elite uniform matchup for Christmas Eve, with the Jets of their all-green duds and the Commanders in burgundy and white. It made for a festive scene at MetLife Stadium, although the on-field product was typically ugly. The Commanders fell to 7-4 in video games performed on Christmas Eve, whereas the Jets, who have been 1-6 on Dec. 24, gained for the primary time on the day earlier than Christmas since Joe Namath handed for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 42-31 win over the Chargers in 1967.
Fail: Fantasy managers who benched Breece Corridor
Who might blame folks like my pal Cory for not beginning the Jets’ operating again within the fantasy soccer playoffs? Corridor hadn’t rushed for greater than 50 yards since early October and was restricted to 18 yards from scrimmage in final week’s 30-0 loss to the Dolphins. The previous Iowa State star had a profession day towards Washington’s porous protection, speeding for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. He additionally had a career-high 12 catches for 96 yards on 16 targets as the favourite outlet valve for Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian — who, as CBS analyst and former Washington free agent bust Adam Archuleta talked about a number of occasions on the published, failed to finish a move of at the least 10 air yards.
Down 27-7 at halftime towards the league’s worst offense and New York’s fourth quarterback of the season, the Commanders appeared headed for his or her most embarrassing loss in years. As a substitute, Ron Rivera’s protection pressured a punt or a turnover on the Jets’ first six possessions of the second half as Brissett and the offense mounted a comeback.
“It’s about being knowledgeable, and that’s what these younger males confirmed — that they’re professionals,” Rivera mentioned afterward. “They’re not going to stop, they’re not going to roll over, they’re not going to die. I couldn’t be extra happy with the group … that got here out, particularly within the second half, and fought and performed and gave it the whole lot they’d. They’ve satisfaction. They’ve grit.”
The Commanders and Jets mixed for 22 penalties, 41 incompletions and a number of other harm timeouts, all of which contributed to a slog of a recreation. At 3 hours half-hour from opening kickoff to ultimate whistle, the meaningless contest took 33 minutes longer than the Falcons’ Taylor Heinicke-led win over the Colts. The place’s Rob Manfred once you want him?
