Week 4 Recap – Washington Commanders at Arizona Cardinals

Commanders Blow Out Cardinals 42-14

September 30, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

First Quarter

Washington won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. DeeJay Dallas returned the kickoff 39 yards but fumbled on a hit by Quan Martin, Washington was unable to recover the ball. With the Cardinals starting on their own 45 yard line, Kyler Murray hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for 9 yards. James Connor gained 6 yards, 10 yards and 16 yards running on three of the next four plays, taking the ball down to the Commanders 11 yard line. Washington was able to stop the Cardinals, who elected to go for it on fourth down, with Murray throwing to Harrison on a corner rub route over Noah Igbinoghene, who could not make a play on the well-thrown ball. Matt Prater converted the extra point giving Arizona a 7-0 lead.

After the touchback, Brian Robinson rushed for 4 yards and Jayden Daniels scrambled for 2 yards. On third down, Daniels hit Olamide Zaccheaus for 16 yards. Robinson then ran for two yards and Daniel threw to Noah Brown for 6 yards. On third and 2, Robinson took a pitch around the left end for 17 yards. From the Arizona 23, Robinson took a direct snap for 9 yards and Daniels ran for 8 yards on designed run play which put the ball at the six. Robinson ran hard up the middle for the touchdown and Austin Seibert converted the extra point to tie the score at 7-7.

Following the touchback, Murray hit Greg Dortch for 5 yards and Conner then ran for 12 yards. Murray hit Harrison for 10 yards and then Washington was able to force two incompletions putting the Cardinals in fourth and nine, having to punt. Blake Gillikin was able to put the ball inside the 10 and was downed at the Washington 7 yard line.

Robinson ran for 1 yard on first down. Terry McLaurin caught a 5 yard pass over the middle to put Washington into third and four territory. Zaccheaus was able to pick up the first down on a 5 yard completion. McLaurin caught an 11 yard out to move to the ball to the Washington 29 yard line.  Robinson ran for 6 yards to end the quarter.

Second Quarter

Daniels scrambled for 2 yards and then hit McLaurin for 5 yards on third down. Zaccheaus caught a 14 yard pass on a comeback route to pick up another first down. Jeremy McNichols rans for 6 yards and Daniels picked up 3 on second down. Robinson picked up the first down on short urn over the left side. After a 6 yard scramble by Daniels on first down, McNichols ran around left end for a 27 yard touchdown breaking several tackles. Seibert nailed the extra point putting Washington up 14-7.

Washington’s defense then had a rare three and out stand on the next drive, allowing on 9 yards on two plays, including great plays by Jeremy Chinn prevent a first down and Igbinoghene knocking the ball away on third down.

After the punt, Washington started at their own 20 yard line. Zach Ertz picked up 9 yards on a shovel pass and Robinson ran for 9 yards to pick up the first down. Robinson followed up with a 7 yard run and Noah Brown caught a six yarder for a first down. Garrett Williams intercepted a throw to McLaurin on a deep throw over the middle which was late.

The Cardinals started at their own 18. Conner was stopped for no gain on first down and Murray was sacked for a 5 yard loss by Dorance Armstrong. Dortch picked up 7 yards on screen forcing another Arizona punt.

Washington started their next drive at their own 28 yard line. Robinson was held to no gain on first down and lost 5 yards on second down. On third down, Daniels’ throw to McLaurin was just high and fell incomplete. After the first Tress Way punt since week one, Ben Sinnott made a nice tackle on the return at the Arizona 30 yard line.

Washington strung out a Conner run around right end and Chinn cleaned up for no gain. Conner then caught a screen pass and picked up 9 yards. Conner picked up the first down on a 2 yard run. Two plays later Murray hit Michael Wilson for 11 yards. However, Arizona was only able to pick up 9 more yards on a Dortch 9 yard reception. On fourth and one, Armstrong sacked Murray for a 7 yard loss.

After the turnover on downs, Daniels was able to move Washington into field goal range behind a 6 yard pass to McNichols, 13 yard pass to Ertz and a 7 yard scramble. McNichols picked up 5 yards up the middle to set up a 45 yard field attempt by Seibert which was good.

Halftime – Washington 17, Arizona 7

Third Quarter

John Bates caught a 9 yard pass from Daniels after the touchback and Robinson ran for 5 yards. Daniels then threw deep to Noah Brown, who was interfered with by Sean Murphy-Bunting on a questionable call. With first and goal from the Arizona 9 yard line, Daniels ran it in for the touchdown behind a convoy of blockers. Seibert kicked the extra point to give Washington a 24-7 lead.

In a mistake-filled possession, Arizona then committed two offensive holding penalties and Murray was sacked for an 8 yard loss. On third and 34, Arizona elected to run a draw and punt the ball away.

Zaccheaus returned the punt 16 yards to the Washington 40 yard line. Robinson was stopped for a 1 yard gain on first down and Washington picked up an illegal formation penalty on second down. Ertz picked up 1 yard on an outlet pass from Daniels. On third and 13, Daniels threw a strike to Noah Brown for 14 yards and the first down. Washington gained 5 yards on the next two plays to have a third and 5. McLaurin caught a pass just short of the first down marker. McNichols picked up 15 yards on forth down to the Arizona 25 yard line. McLaurin caught a pass for 2 yards and dropped the next catch to punt Washington into a third and eight. Arizona blitzed but Daniels hit Robinson for four yards. Seibert came on for the 48 yard field goal attempt and made it, making the lead 27-7.

The Cardinals returned the kickoff 25 yards to the 26 yard line. Harrison caught a five yard pass and Conner ran for 20 yard up the middle. After another 5 yard run by Conner, Jonathan Allen sacked Murray for a 7 yard loss. After no gain on third down, Murray threw a deep out to Harrison for 19 yards and a first down. Dortch picked up 12 yards on a short throw and run. Then, Conner took over running three straight times for 8 yards, 6 yards and 6 yards for the touchdown. The extra point was good cutting the lead 27-14.

Fourth Quarter

Washington responded with a long, time-consuming drive. Robinson started with a 4 yard run and McLaurin caught a 15 yard pass from Daniels. Robinson and Daniels combined for 17 yards running and Zaccheaus caught a 14 yard reception. However, Zaccheaus was called for taunting on the play and the ball was moved back 15 yards. Washington was able to pick up another first down but was called for holding, giving them a first and twenty. Two plays later Daniels hit Luke McCaffrey for a first down on a crosser over the middle for 17 yards.  After another penalty, two plays later Daniels threw a strike to McLaurin in the endzone for the touchdown. Washington went for a two-point attempt and Daniels connected with Ertz at the back of the end zone for the successful conversion. Washington’s lead became 35-14. The drive took 6:41 off the clock, putting the Cardinals must throw scenario.

Elijah Higgins caught a 9 yard pass from Murray to start the Cardinals’ next drive. After an incomplete pass, Emari Demercado ripped off a 16 yard run for the first down. After a short pass, Murray completed a pass to Wilson who fumbled but was called down by contact. Dan Quinn challenged the call, and it was overturned, giving Washington the ball back at the Washington 24.

Robinson ran for 1 yard on first down, but Daniels misfired and missed a wide-open Noah Brown on second down. Robinson picked up 33 yards on the third down run and Dennis Gardeck was called for unnecessary roughness, adding 15 yards to the play. McNichols ran twice for 5 yards, putting Washington in a third and five at the Arizona 37 yard line. Zaccheaus picked up 27 yards on an outlet screen down the 10 yard line. Two plays later, McNichols ran up the middle for the 7 yard touchdown. He was called for taunting for his end zone celebration. Seibert converted the extra point for a 42-14 lead.

Arizona feeling the lead was insurmountable starting running the ball to run time off the clock and get the over with as quickly as possible.

Final Score – Washington 42, Arizona 14

Thoughts

This was the most complete game Washington has played in probably three or more years.

Washington is 3-1 and leading the NFC East after four weeks. Nobody predicted this.

The defense contained Kyle Murray and harassed him most of the game.

The defense still has issues stopping running plays, especially misdirection and counter plays.

Jayden Daniels is the real deal and thank you to Ron Rivera for losing the correct number of games last year.

Stupid penalties did not kill drives this game, the offense was able to overcome them and succeed.

Jeremy McNichols is showing he belongs on this team and in this league.

Kliff Kingsbury found ways to use Olamide Zaccheaus to replace Austin Ekeler’s production.