The Commanders have the potential for a winning streak ahead. Washington has lost two straight games to fall to .500 after the first quarter of the season, and it’s difficult to get a read on how good the team really is. Both wins have come against NFL bottom-feeders and both losses against the cream of the NFL crop. Moreover, some of the key individual players haven’t lived up to expectations themselves. With a very favorable schedule ahead, though, a resurgence from any of these core players could spark a winning streak.
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Three Players Can Ignite Commanders Winning Streak
Jahan Dotson
Sophomore wide receiver Jahan Dotson has gotten off to a slow start to the season. Over the first four games, Dotson has compiled only 14 catches, 110 yards, and one touchdown total. As one of the most likely breakout players from the offseason, that contribution level is disappointing. He has yet to exceed 40 yards or five receptions in a single game thus far, and his longest reception of the early season is 18 yards. Additionally, Dotson’s average depth of reception sits at 7.9 yards this year. This is down from 14.9 last season, demonstrating that he’s been less efficient both overall and on a per-target basis.
It would be criminal, however, to neglect to mention Dotson’s game-tying touchdown at the buzzer against Philadelphia. He and Howell both possess an undeniable clutch gene. If Rivera had opted to go for a two-point conversion, the Commanders could be sitting at 3-1. Fortunately, the next three games on Washington’s schedule are the Bears, Falcons, and Giants. This slate offers an excellent opportunity for Dotson to break out of his slump and fuel a Commanders winning streak. Chicago looks to be without top cornerback Jaylon Johnson and starting free safety Eddie Jackson, leaving rookie Terrell Smith as Dotson’s likely matchup.
Jahan Dotson TD, Eagles vs Commanders on OT #NFL pic.twitter.com/4AvKD5nkfb
— Sports US today (@Sportsustoday) October 1, 2023
Montez Sweat
After surging to a strong first two games, defensive end Montez Sweat made little impact against the Bills and Eagles in the most recent two weeks. With 1.5 sacks per game against Arizona and Denver, the explosive Sweat looked primed for ascension into the next tier of pass rushers. Since Week 3, however, Sweat has recorded only three combined tackles and hasn’t sacked the quarterback once. That is an unremarkable trend for a player in a contract year, though he remains on pace for a career-high in both categories.
The Chicago Bears have turned the ball over twice in every game of the season to this point, and opposing defenses have sacked quarterback Justin Fields 17 times in four games. That is an enticing number for Sweat, Chase Young, and company. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio sent a futile four-man rush too heavily against the Eagles and relied on his highly-touted stars to get home. It was unsuccessful. Week 5 is an opportunity for the pass rush to return to form, and it starts with Montez Sweat.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
First-round rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has displayed a mixed bag of performances to this point, but context is important. Del Rio and the defensive coaching staff put a lot on his plate already, especially in the last two games. Forbes was matched against Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown in back-to-back weeks, a gauntlet for any cornerback in the league. Diggs caught eight balls for 111 yards and Brown had nine receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
The fanbase and mainstream media have been vocal about Forbes’ recent struggles, and it appears that the rookie has heard the criticism. Perhaps to quiet the noise, Forbes has reportedly deactivated his X account ahead of a potential matchup with Bears receiver D.J. Moore. Chicago’s offense has been relatively one-dimensional this season and depends significantly on the connection between Moore and Fields. If the Commanders hope to ignite a winning streak, they’ll need a bounce-back game from Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
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Main Photo: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
