TAMPA, Fla. – On their opening drive Sunday evening, the Washington Commanders marched down the sphere, stopped and confronted a fourth-and-2 at Tampa Bay’s 20-yard line. They succeeded and threw incomplete, turning the ball over on downs however setting the tone for the remainder of the evening.
For many of the NFL, more often than not, fourth down is a punting down, a concession of failure, however not for the Commanders. They went 20 of 23 on fourth down within the common season, an 87% conversion fee that not solely led the NFL however represents the all-time finest success fee for any NFL workforce with greater than 10 fourth-down makes an attempt down in a season. season.
And on Sunday evening, they lived and died on fourth down, with conversions that netted each of their touchdowns in a 23-20 victory, led by their unflappable rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
“We’re going to be daring, however not reckless,” coach Dan Quinn stated of his workforce’s confidence in coming by — and succeeding — as usually because it does. “I believe that is who we’re, all season lengthy. When you get stopped early, you simply have to remain the course, realizing that, hey, hold your chin tucked and hold swinging, realizing that that is going to be a recreation that is we’ll get to the top.”
Washington’s second drive was an actual slog, a 17-play, 92-yard slog that took greater than 9 minutes off the clock. The Commanders confronted a fourth-and-1 on the Bucs’ 23 and, after all, succeeded, with operating again Austin Ekeler changing with a 2-yard run. On third-and-goal, Daniels threw a landing to receiver Dyami Brown for a 7–3 lead.
Twice, the Commanders settled for subject objectives for a 13-10 lead, and within the fourth quarter, down 17-13, their fourth down price them a big gamble, as Washington tried to fourth-and-goal from the three, solely to have Daniels throw incomplete.
The Bucs had the ball and the lead, however dedicated the one turnover of the sport, botching the handoff on a jet sweep to arrange the Commanders at Tampa Bay’s 13-yard line. Once once more, the protection made a cease on third down, and as soon as once more, Quinn did not hesitate to take action on fourth-and-2 on the 5-yard line. This time, Daniels discovered receiver Terry McLaurin for a landing and the lead.
“Fourth down is one thing DQ has been aggressive with all season,” McLaurin stated. “For a part of the season, we have been remodeled 100%. We know that whether it is fourth and manageable, the suspension will give us the chance to execute. When we would have liked to benefit from the play, we did it, and that provides us confidence for the long run.”
Quinn and Bucs coach Todd Bowles are each defensive coaches, which may generally make them conservative of their offensive aggressiveness. Tampa Bay has had a better success fee on fourth down than its opponents this 12 months, however the Bucs’ opponents have succeeded on fourth down greater than twice as usually, changing a league-high 19 occasions.
Tampa Bay had its probability to do this on Sunday. On the opening drive, on fourth-and-7, the Bucs hit a 42-yard subject objective, however an offsides penalty gave them an opportunity to go for it on fourth-and-2. They stored the factors on the board, and within the fourth quarter they needed to make one other tough choice. On a second-and-1 on the Washington 12, they missed twice, making fourth-and-3 from their 14 with 4:45 left. Bowles took the secure choice and went for a subject objective to tie the sport with 4:41 left.
That put the ball in Daniels’ arms, and the Bucs by no means acquired it again, with Washington operating the clock down and successful on a game-tying subject objective as time expired. That kick was triggered by a third-and-2 conversion when Daniels scrambled for a primary down, permitting the Commanders to run the clock down till the ultimate play.
Daniels stated the mentality on fourth downs has been the identical all 12 months: If coaches have the arrogance to provide them an opportunity, they need to have the identical optimism about with the ability to convert on that chance.
“Obviously, they place confidence in us to knock down starters, so I’ve religion that guys are going to go on the market and block and make performs and transfer the chains,” he stated.
The rookie QB has been phenomenal all season, however particularly on fourth down. The proven fact that he dedicated an incompletion on the fourth Sunday was a primary. In the common season, he was 8-for-8 passing on fourth-down performs, with seven first downs. Throwing the ball, he had 9 carries for 85 yards with eight conversions, so he was 15 of 17 on fourth down, an excellent higher success fee than the workforce’s 87% general.
Washington’s three fourth-down conversions Sunday tied probably the most in NFL historical past in a playoff victory. The 2022 Eagles, 2018 Chiefs and 2011 Saints did the identical, however all posted wins of 17 factors or extra, nothing just like the Commanders, who wanted each conversion in a three-point victory all final second on the Bucs.
Washington now strikes on to face top-seeded Detroit, the place Lions coach Dan Campbell can be identified for his confidence on fourth down. Detroit did it by ending fourth down 10 occasions greater than Washington this 12 months, going 22 of 33 en path to a 15-2 document. But regardless that the Lions strive more durable, the Commanders have had extra success. Quinn stated his workforce has been uniquely certified to earn his belief on fourth down, all season.
“It’s one thing that is a part of our recreation,” he stated. “Quite a lot of it has to do with 5 (Daniels). Sometimes he makes a play that… wasn’t the huddle name, utilizing his legs and doing that. Today, early on, we acquired stopped on our first, however I used to be not going to cease us at that time.”
He hardly ever does it.
Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and the Athletic. You can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
Want nice tales delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports accountand observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter each day!
Get extra from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get data on video games, information and extra
