Pache.co Information Technologies

By David Aldridge, Ben Standig and Nick Kosmider

A dramatic comeback bid by the Denver Broncos fell short on the final play of the game against the Commanders as Washington held on to clinch a 35-33 road win Sunday and improve to 2-0 for the first time in 12 years. Here’s what you need to know:

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

A new era in Washington?

The mistake you can make when a team wins a game early in a season is to listen to players afterward who say “we wouldn’t have won this game last season.” Because it almost always winds up wrong. But it is, genuinely, hard to see how this Commanders team would have come all the way back from a 21-3 first-half deficit on the road in previous Ron Rivera incarnations. Washington’s rallied on the road before but rarely finished the deal. The Commanders did Sunday, led by their defensive line, which was silent in the first half, but roared to life behind Daron Payne in the second.

And, after throwing the ball 30 (!!) times in the first half, Eric Bieniemy calmed down and started grinding out yards on the ground. Brian Robinson — who may or may not have been on my fantasy team bench Sunday while I started Isiah Pacheco — scored twice. The screen game that Bieniemy and Andy Reid used to destroy opponents’ wills in Kansas City broke off some huge plays.

Howell continued to impress with his decision-making. And, after somehow giving up a Hail Mary touchdown on the last play of regulation, Benjamin St-Juste — with, let’s say, the referees allowing a lot of contact — broke up the two-point conversion attempt pass to Courtland Sutton.

Washington’s 2-0 for the first time since 2011. Rex Grossman was the starting quarterback in D.C. that season. It did not end well. It’s safe to say the ’11 team wouldn’t have won this game. — Aldridge

How the Commanders turned it around

Washington appeared on the verge of getting blown out before halftime as Denver moved the ball into Commanders territory while leading 21-3. That’s when linebacker Jamin Davis sprinted across the field to chase down Wilson, running toward the sideline and forcing a fumble. Fellow LB Cody Barton dove on the loose ball at the Broncos 49. After a combined zero yards on their prior two possessions, the Commanders capitalized with a nine-play drive capped by Logan Thomas’ four-yard touchdown catch and Robinson’s run for a two-point conversion. That sparked Washington’s 32-3 surge for a 35-24 lead with 7:11 remaining.

Howell remains a work in progress with unloading the ball when pass-pressure looms — but he looked strong in almost every other facet. Starting with the Thomas touchdown, Washington scored on five of its next six possessions, with the other drive ending with a missed 59-yard field goal as the second-year quarterback directed the proficient attack. Though now sacked 10 times in two games, Howell’s poise in the pocket remained. He took off running when needed and hung tough to make several impressive throws.

Kareem Jackson’s ejection looms large

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected after picking up a personal foul for an illegal hit to the head of Commanders tight end Thomas in the second quarter, and the momentum of the game turned on the play.

The hit occurred as Thomas caught that four-yard touchdown pass from Howell. The Commanders converted the two-point conversion to follow, part of a run of 18 unanswered points that helped Washington overcome a 21-3 deficit and tie the game in the third quarter.

The Broncos lost safety Caden Sterns for the season with a knee injury in Week 1. Veteran P.J. Locke is on injured reserve. When Jackson’s replacement, Delarrin Turner-Yell, suffered an injury early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos were down to one healthy true safety, Justin Simmons.

With the Broncos depleted in the secondary, Howell carved up Denver’s defense with ease in the second half. The Commanders seemed galvanized by the Jackson penalty, which completely changed the complexion of the game and was the second straight game in which the veteran safety drew a critical late-hit foul. — Kosmider 

A bright spot for the Broncos

Rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims played only 17 offensive snaps in Denver’s opener, but the second-round pick had a far bigger role Sunday — at least initially.

Mims caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Wilson on Denver’s second drive. He caught a 53-yard deep ball on the following drive, leading to another score. He later returned a punt 45 yards. In all, Mims tallied 166 all-purpose yards in the first half.

The Broncos floundered offensively after the fast start. Their issues are widespread, and they begin with Wilson, who turned the ball over twice and was sacked seven times. Mims appears to be a building block for an offense that needs many more. — Kosmider 

What they’re saying

Sutton addressed the contact and lack of penalty on the two-point play:

“There’s enough cameras out there and enough TV coverage that everyone can watch it and figure out for themselves what happened. All I can talk about is what I can control. Russ gave me a chance to make a play and I’ve just got to find a way.”

Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey on the final two plays:

“Normally, when you call a Hail Mary or things of that nature, you’re never really feeling too good about your chances, but that was one of the wildest plays I’ve ever seen. I thought we had a chance on the two-point conversion. It’s up to the official with what he saw and what he called or didn’t call there, but there’s no way that game should have ever gotten to that point. We all need to be better to close the door.”

Howell praised the Commanders’ defense, saying it gives him “so much confidence going into the game.”

“Obviously, they would like to have some plays back. But at the end of the day, they made stops when they needed to make stops. It is so much fun playing for those guys. It was good to have [DE] Chase [Young] back out there, too.”

He also said the second half turnaround was “a combination of everything.”

“We were kind of rolling on offense. We were doing some good things on the ground and in the air. We opened up the screen game in the second half, and that was big for us,” the QB said. “I think the screen game was one of the main things that won us this game. The backs did a good job. The offensive line did a good job in space. We were getting to the screens because those guys were kind of teeing off. Getting to those screens was huge for us.”

Highlight of the game

A HAIL MARY AS TIME EXPIRES

Key stat

During Sunday’s game, Wilson became the first player in league history to amass 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards, per ESPN.

(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty)