• Fri. Feb 14th, 2025

Mistakes and officiating undermine Washington Commanders in NFC Championship Game defeat.

ByGbemiro Timmy

Jan 27, 2025

For three quarters, Sunday’s NFC Championship Game featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders was indeed much tighter than the score suggested.

 

The gap was three expensive turnovers and some erratic officiating, before Philly ultimately took control.

 

If there was a moment that genuinely transformed the game, it occurred at the close of the third quarter. Down 23-34 with possession at midfield, Austin Ekeler dropped the ball after receiving a quick pass from Jayden Daniels, and it appeared that Washington’s Tyler Biadasz recovered it. Nonetheless, the Eagles received possession of the ball because Zack Baun was deemed down before Biadasz took it.

 

It perfectly summarized a match determined by Washington’s series of minor errors at critical moments, along with Shawn Hochuli’s team not helping the Commanders.

 

Ekeler’s fumble marked the third turnover of the game for the Commanders, following earlier miscues by Dyami Brown and Jeremy McNichols. In total, Washington would have four turnovers after Jayden Daniels tossed a late interception when the game was already decided.

 

Next, there was the officiating. It might be unjust to place blame on the officials in a match that concluded with a 55-23 score, yet Washington consistently received unfavorable treatment in that respect throughout the first half. A definite hold was overlooked on the Eagles during a fourth-down play, a very dubious late hit was called on Mike Sainristil for bringing down Saquon Barkley out of bounds on a third down, and Marshon Lattimore received a 15-yard penalty for having his helmet torn off by A.J. Brown.

Those were merely a handful of the numerous complaints Washington fans might have against Hochuli’s team on Sunday — and that doesn’t even touch on a late third-quarter situation where they nearly granted the Eagles an easy touchdown if the Commanders kept committing off-sides at the goal line.

 

Nonetheless, various other elements contributed to the Commanders’ defeat, and ultimately, the outcome of Sunday’s match should not overshadow what was an extraordinary season for Washington. Currently, it’s primarily focused on how they react to expectations

 

 

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