Alex Smith Led The Washington Football Team To A ‘Workmanlike’ Win Against The Bengals

The Washington Football Team won their third game of the season not with a bang, but with a whimper.

The Football Team improved to 3-7 with a 20-9 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals who dropped to 2-7-1 after QB Joe Burrow left the game with what was later announced as a torn ACL and MCL. It was the first non-conference victory for Washington this season and it precedes a key division matchup against the 3-7 Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving Day.

Quarterback Alex Smith earned his first win since Nov.11, 2018 – one week before he suffered a gruesome leg injury that threatened his ability to walk, much less play football, ever again. With the victory, the Football Team advanced to within a half-game of the lead in the NFC East.

In his fourth appearance of the season, the veteran was not as explosive as he had been in his previous two appearances when he racked up 325 and 390 passing yards against the New York Giants and Detroit Lions, respectively. Instead, Smith finished 17 of 25 for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His most explosive play of the day was a 42-yard pass to Terry McLaurin.

Head coach Ron Rivera said in his Monday press conference that the team put together a “workmanlike” win. Smith’s efficient performance set the tone for a game that Washington did not dominate, but fought through until the end.

Instead of flashy plays, Smith found success by throwing short, effective passes the same way he has throughout his 14-year career. Coincidentally, Washington wore the same throwback uniforms in Sunday’s game as it did on Nov. 18 two years ago when Smith suffered his injury.

“The last time I wore it, I had it cut off of me in the ambulance,” Smith said after the game.

Smith said that he still likes the throwback uniform, despite the injury he experienced in it. Wearing a jersey reminiscent of times past, Smith was his old self again.

In the third quarter, Smith completed a pass short left to wide receiver Steven Sims for a three-yard touchdown. Smith had to wait for Sims, who was running a crossing route, to work through the middle. He was patient in the pocket and connected with Sims for a score.

Rivera highlighted another play in the third quarter that demonstrated Smith’s maturity under center. Washington was backed up all the way on its own 5-yard line on second-and-eight. Smith completed a short pass to Cam Sims for 12 yards to convert the first down.

“We had a different play on, he read the defense, saw the cornerback option,” Rivera explained. “He knew the corner had the deep outside third so he whipped it out there to Cam to pick up a very valuable first down. Those things are invaluable. The other quarterbacks hear that and when the team hears that, they’ll have trust in what he can do for them.”

Rivera said that Smith’s measured pocket presence has had a positive impact throughout the team.

“I think sometimes it’s about the development of the guys around you,” Rivera said. “You look at the way the receiving corps is getting better and better and stronger and stronger, and the running game is coming together.”

Smith’s calm demeanor in Washington’s grind-it-out win suggests that explosive plays are not as important as finishing the game – something Washington had failed to do in recent weeks.

In Week 10 against the Lions, Washington recorded a blistering 464 total yards, including 375 in the air. The Football Team tallied 83 offensive plays to just 55 for the Lions and 34 first downs to 21 for Detroit.

But Washington fell short on a last-minute field goal by Matthew Prater largely because they beat themselves: there was a missed field goal, a dropped touchdown, one turnover and a crucial penalty. Those mistakes defined an all-around frustrating game more than Chase Young’s 15-yard rushing the passer penalty on the Lions’ final drive.

Rivera said that despite the team’s last three losses in games that were decided by three points or less, he has felt encouraged.

“The last three losses, coming into the office, it didn’t feel as bad as it had in the past,” Rivera said. “Losing sucks and sometimes, you’re just miserable. But coming in and looking back on those three games and just looking at the progress we’re making, the development that’s happening, the growth that you see.”

That growth materialized on the field against the Bengals. Washington recorded 139 fewer yards, 22 fewer plays on offense, and 14 fewer first downs than it did against the Lions. But the Football Team managed to come out on top in the only category that matters: the win column. In Week 11, Washington did not give the game away. They remained too quiet in the first half, scoring just seven points, but they fought back in the second half. The defense held the Bengals to 3-of-13 on third downs and did not allow Cincinnati to score any points in the second half.

“They fight to the end,” Rivera said. “We may not have played very well in the first half of some of these games, but we come out in the second half and played really well and gave ourselves a chance to win.”

For Rivera, the difference is not a lack of explosiveness, but rather a focus on doing the small things right.

“It’s not just about getting in your crease and holding it,” Rivera said. “It’s getting to your crease and getting to the ball and making a play. It’s not just about blocking your guy, but it’s about blocking your guy and moving him to create a bigger space for that running back or to protect that quarterback to give him that extra second he needs.

“It’s learning how to win and then it’s a matter of winning.”