Washington cornerback Benjamin St-Juste showcased nerves of steel as he faced down a nail-biting moment during Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. With the clock ticking down to zero, Brandon Johnson managed to secure Russell Wilson’s impressive 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass, narrowing Washington’s lead to 35-33.
St-Juste remained unfazed, demonstrating remarkable composure. He later explained, “Okay, we got one more opportunity to shut this down and come up with a ‘dub.’ So, we locked in and made the play.” St-Juste’s timely intervention, which appeared to involve some degree of pass interference, disrupted Wilson’s 2-point conversion attempt to Courtland Sutton, ultimately preserving the Commanders’ come-from-behind victory. Washington managed to rally after facing an early 21-3 deficit to eventually secure a 35-33 win.
Despite the contentious play, CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore pointed out that it seemed St-Juste had made significant early contact that could have resulted in a foul. Nevertheless, Brad Rogers’ officiating crew did not throw a flag, allowing the Commanders to celebrate their first 2-0 start to a season since 2011.
The Denver Broncos (0-2), on the other hand, suffered a setback by losing consecutive home games for the first time in recent memory. This outcome was certainly not what coach Sean Payton had anticipated when he returned to the sidelines after a year-long hiatus in the broadcast studio. Payton’s return was highly anticipated, given his successful 15-year tenure in New Orleans. He had previously criticized his predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett, for what he referred to as one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history during the previous year.
Despite the Broncos’ valiant efforts, which included scoring touchdowns on their first three drives (a feat not achieved since 2010), their 18-point lead ultimately slipped away. This historic lead collapse tied for the fourth-largest in franchise history when playing at home.
Quarterback Sam Howell, in his first road start, played a pivotal role for Washington by throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Howell remarked, “The thing I’m proud of is we had each other’s back on both sides of the ball.” Running back Brian Robinson Jr. added two touchdowns, contributing to the second-largest comeback in franchise history. Washington had previously overcome a 21-point deficit to beat Detroit on November 4, 1990.
The Commanders executed a remarkable 32-3 scoring spree, seizing control of the game before the Broncos mounted a late-game resurgence. In a dramatic conclusion, with just two seconds remaining and the Broncos at the 50-yard line, Wilson unleashed a pass towards the end zone. The ball was deflected amidst a scramble of players before Johnson managed to secure it for a crucial score.
While Wilson had an impressive game overall, throwing for 308 yards and three touchdowns, he also committed two turnovers. The Broncos’ earlier success, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three drives, had raised hopes for a different outcome.
Coach Payton made a strategic decision to involve the team’s young, speedy players early on, which paid off handsomely. Undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a 5-yard pitch, rookie receiver Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass, and second-year wideout Johnson secured a 16-yard score. However, it was noted that some of these players received limited touches after their initial success.
Marvin Mims Jr., for instance, who had two catches for 113 yards on just two targets, was not targeted again after the Broncos’ third possession. This decision was attributed to a combination of coverage-driven choices and personnel groupings. Nevertheless, Mims’ impact was substantial, including a 45-yard punt return that contributed to his 168 all-purpose yards on five touches.
In other notable events, Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera was honored with a game ball in the locker room for achieving his 100th career win in the NFL. Additionally, the Broncos paid tribute to their Super Bowl 32-winning team during halftime.
The game’s pivotal moment occurred when Howell connected with Logan Thomas on a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. Safety Kareem Jackson was ejected from the game for a dangerous hit on Thomas, who suffered a concussion during the play and did not return. Jackson’s ejection significantly impacted the game’s outcome.
Jackson had previously received a 15-yard penalty in the season opener for a hit on Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers. When asked about the possibility of a suspension for Jackson, Coach Payton responded, “Gosh, I don’t have an answer for you because those things happen so quickly… From my vantage point, I only get to see it one time, you look up and they make the call and you’ve got to go with it.” The resulting penalty moved the conversion try to the 1-yard line, allowing Was hington to narrow the gap to 21-11 when Robinson carried the ball past the plane. Joey Slye’s 46-yard field goal as the first half expired brought the score to 21-14. The Commanders completed their comeback with Terry McLaurin’s 30-yard TD reception on their first drive of the second half.
In terms of injuries, Washington’s Logan Thomas suffered a concussion and did not return to the game, while Broncos safety Delarrin Turner-Yell sustained an undisclosed injury early in the fourth quarter, requiring a visit to the locker room. Turner-Yell was replaced by Essang Bassey in the game.
