Burgundy & Gold Reaction: Week 10 Mistake Driven

Posted on by

November 12, 2024

by David Earl

Should Have Never Gotten To This Point

Regardless of your feelings on the placement of the ball on the Zach Ertz play being short of the first down or the inexplicable offsides, the game should have never come down to those moments. Washington’s offense averaged 6.0 yards per play heading into this matchup but only managed to average 4.1 against a Pittsburgh defense that allowed an average of 5.1 yards per play. Washington was well under their average of 4.9 yards per rush attempt and their 3rd down conversion rate of 35.7% (5-14) was abysmal. Granted, Pittsburgh is one of the best run defenses in the game, having allowed an average of 3.8 yards per carry, but how they contained Jayden Daniels as well should also be of no surprise. They are built to defend a quarterback like Lamar Jackson, so limiting Daniels’ runs and focusing on the passing game was a prudent decision. That direction resulted in more self-inflicted wounds than Pittsburgh stopping Washington’s passing game.

The fact that Daniels completed just 17 of 34 pass attempts and achieved a passer rating of 68.5 was big part of Washington’s ineffective offense. The offensive line struggled to maintain a clean pocket, allowing 3 sacks, 6 additional quarterback hits, and 8 tackles for loss. Pittsburgh’s defense was also effective in eliminating passing lanes and recognizing screens.  They deflected 5 pass attempts. A positive note though is that T.J. Watt was held relatively quiet – he recorded 0 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 1 pass defended – but that was just not enough. With an ineffective running game and the offensive line struggling most of the game, the pressure on Daniels caused him to be off on many of his throws. While he was inaccurate on many of his attempts, Daniels still avoided disaster by throwing zero interceptions as he continued to refuse to force any ill-advised throws in tight coverage. One throw I know Daniels would have wanted back was a pass to Luke McCaffrey early in the 4th quarter on the 3 yard line. It was 2nd down and 8 yards to go and Daniels just overthrew a wide-open McCaffrey that would have resulted in a big gain. This happened after Pittsburgh fumbled at the 1 yard line after a 14 play drive starting from the own 13 yard line.

There were some crucial drops made that were just inexcusable, especially against a well-coached team like Pittsburgh. The touchdown drop by Dyami Brown could have been the worst of the game heading into halftime. On 1st and goal and 25 seconds left in the second quarter, Jayden Daniels made the perfect read to Brown in the back of the end zone. Luckily enough, Austin Eckler scored on a 1 yard run after a pass interference call on Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter. Noah Brown had two drops on 3rd downs, with one drive resulting in a punt. At the 8:19 time of the second quarter and with 14 yards to go for the first down, Brown dropped a pass that would have set up 4th and short in Pittsburgh territory. He had one of the most crucial drops of the game with 1:23 left in the 4th quarter that would have netted a first down, with the next play resulting in the controversial short of the first pass to Zach Ertz that effectively ended the game. That completion short of the first down and the offsides later on defense were crucial but Washington just should have never been to that point of the game for it to matter. They shot themselves in the foot offensively all game.

Defense Mixed Results

Heading into this matchup, Pittsburgh was not a great running team, being ranked 24th with an average of 4.0 yards per carry average. Washington’s porous run defense did not allow them to get going. While the front seven held the run game at bay, the pass rush was got home and made Russell Wilson uncomfortable in the pocket most of the game. Pittsburgh’s offensive line allowed a sack rate of 8.86% ranked 24th in the league and Washington’s 6th-ranked pass rush responded perfectly. Washington’s pass rush ended up getting 3 sacks plus 6 additional quarterback hits while accounting for 5 tackles for loss. The pressure was enough to result in 1 interception and a fumble recovery plus two passes defenses. As far as the impact of the pressure, Russell Wilson ended up completing 50% of his passes but the secondary was unable to fully capitalize.

Wilson’s touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth was well executed as he was set up inside of receiver Van Jefferson and then crossed behind him for an easy completion on 3rd and goal. The 16 yard touchdown to receiver George Pickens was ball placement and a great catch on his part with solid coverage by corner Noah Igbinoghene. The 32 yard touchdown pass to receiver Mike Williams that won the game was a major issue. Benjamin St-Juste continues to struggle with man-to-man coverage off the line of scrimmage. With 2:27 left in the game, on 3rd down and 9, he allowed Williams free release off the line and allowed an easy score that ultimately cost Washington the game. The secondary continues to be an issue at crucial moments in a game and the addition of Marshon Lattimore at corner should help rectify this aspect of the defense.

Pittsburgh did not enter this game as a prolific passing offense, as they ranked near the middle of the league. They ranked 20th in pass completions at 63.56%, ranked 12th with 10.8 yards per completion and with a 97.7 passer rating. Washington did hold Russell Wilson to a 93.6 passer rating and allowed him to complete just 50% of his passes but they did allow him to average 13.9 yards per completion. What killed this Washington defense were pass plays of 26 yards or more, including the game-winning 32 yard touchdown to Mike Williams. Taking away those 3 pass plays, Wilson completed 11 passes for 103 yards at an average of 9.3 yards per completion. It is hard not to be critical of Washington’s cornerbacks, specifically Benjamin St-Juste. Hopefully, the addition of Lattimore will set a proper ripple effect on this secondary and get St-Juste in a more suitable number two corner role for this team, and Sainristil to play his more natural slot corner position, provided that that is the direction of Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.  That could also include more in the box play by S Jeremy Chinn.

Next Up: Eagles Flying High

The Philadelphia Eagles are beginning to hit stride and looking very much like the favorites to win the NFC East. Over the last 3 weeks, they are ranked 4th in yards per play, with 6.1, and average a league-best 195 yards rushing per game. Through their ground game, they averaged 34:40 time of possession through those 3 weeks, and averaged 33 points per game and an NFL best point differential margin of +17.7. Their offense operates through the combination of running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts on the ground, while Washington has been one of the league’s worst at run defense, allowing 166.7 yards per game.

As for the Eagles’ defense, they have had the best defense in the league over the last 3 weeks, allowing 3.9 yards per play and allowed the second-fewest yards rushing per game, at 71.1 yards. They have struggled to get to the quarterback, with a low 5.83% sack percentage but their young cornerbacks have made an impact as opposing teams completed 60.70% of their passes with a league-low 59.2 passer rating against these last 3 weeks. Their defense has become very formidable over the last few weeks with very few weaknesses, so offensively Washington needs to get back to where they were before the last few games.

On offense, Washington has been relatively consistent moving the ball, having dropped just .5 yards per play average these last 3 weeks to 5.7 yards per play. They have scored a touchdown less per game, averaging 24 points per game while having been tied with Baltimore for league lead at 31.1 points per game prior to these last 3 games. It is not that they are not moving the ball, but it’s the untimely mistakes spoken about earlier and some inconsistencies of Jayen Daniels keeping points off the board. If Kliff Kingsbury does not find a way to limit these mistakes the Eagles could very well get out in front early, leaving Barkley and that running game to control the clock in the second half. If Marshon Lattimore plays and is healthy there will be an interesting dynamic shift on defense that could find Washington having a much better chance of containing that run game.