Commander Country

Cardinals vs. Commanders Live Updates: Washington Gets Ugly Win Over Arizona

The Washington Commanders open their season against the Arizona Cardinals.

Nathaniel Marrero

In this story:

At long last, the regular season is finally here. 

The Washington Commanders open their season at FedEx Field at 1 p.m. against the Arizona Cardinals. 

Commanders quarterback Sam Howell is making the first Week 1 start of his career and second overall in the NFL. Howell was in a competition for most of training camp but outplayed Jacoby Brissett to earn the starting job. The second-year quarterback was 28 of 37 for 265 yards and three touchdowns in his two preseason starts. 

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Howell's top target, Terry McLaurin, will play after suffering a toe injury in Washington's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. 

The Commanders are without defensive end Chase Young, who is still recovering from a stinger he suffered in their first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. 

Arizona is playing its first game with Jonathan Gannon as the head coach. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator for the last two seasons. 

Joshua Dobbs is getting the start at quarterback for the Cardinals after they traded for him late in the preseason. His connection to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing from their time with the Browns last season gave him a leg-up over rookie Clayton Tune despite arriving at the nth hour.

One of Dobbs' top targets, Zach Ertz, will play for Arizona. 

Inactives:

Commanders

DE William Bradley-King

OT Trent Scott

OL Chris Paul

TE Curtis Hodges

WR Mitchell Tinsley

DE Chase Young

Cardinals

CB Starling Thomas V

LB Owen Pappoe

DL Dante Stills

OL Carter O'Donnell

WHAT: Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at Washington Commanders (0-0)

WHERE: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland (67,617)

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, 1:00 p.m.

TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: WMAL 105.9

Tickets via SI Tickets

Betting via SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Cardinals +7.5 (-125), Commanders -7.5 (+100)

TOTAL: 37.5 (o -118, u -110)

MONEYLINE: Cardinals +250, Commanders -333

Make sure to follow along with in-game updates as they happen with Commander Country.

1st Quarter:

Washington gets the ball to start the game. They start the drive at its 25-yard-line after a touchback.

Brian Robinson runs for three yards. Sam Howell's first pass of the game finds Jahan Dotson for six yards, making it third and one. Christian Rodriguez gets the handoff and gains two yards to move the chains. 

Howell's pass intended for Logan Thomas is dropped. Howell finds Dotson for 12 yards for another first down. 

Howell's pass to Curtis Samuel on a screen only gains a yard. Howell looks for Thomas again, but it's incomplete. On third and nine, Howell dumps it off to Samuel but he only gains two yards. 

Tress Way's punt is downed inside the 10-yard line but an illegal block in the back against Washington adds 10 yards for Arizona.

End of possession 

Arizona begins the drive at its 17-yard-line. James Conner is stuffed for a two-yard loss. Conner gets another carry and runs for seven yards. On third and five, Dobbs' pass finds Zach Ertz for six yards to move the chains. 

Dobbs' pass intended for Zach Pascal is incomplete. Dobbs' pass to Ertz is complete but loses three yards. On third and 13, Dobbs hands it off to Conner and he runs for five yards. 

Nolan Cooney's punt is fielded by Jamison Crowder at the 20. He goes out of bounds at the 30 but an illegal block in the back moves the Commanders back to their eight-yard-line.

End of possession

Howell scrambles for two yards before going out of bounds. A late hit on Howell by Kyzir White to his head is a personal foul and moves Washington up 15 yards. The penalty leads to a big fight between the two teams.

A referee was hurt on the play and he's being attended to.

Howell finds Thomas for six yards. Antonio Gibson runs for three yards to make it third and one. Howell's short pass to Dotson gains three yards and Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson is flagged for a personal foul, adding another 15 yards to the play.

Brian Robinson is stopped for a one-yard loss. Howell goes deep for Terry McLaurin and the pass is incomplete, but Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson is flagged for defensive pass interference at the Arizona 15-yard line. 

Samuel runs for six yards. Howell drops back to pass and buys time before finding Robinson for a seven-yard touchdown. 

Joey Slye's extra point is good with 4:15 left in the quarter.

Commanders 7, Cardinals 0

End of possession

Slye's kickoff goes for a touchback. 

Rondale Moore gets the handoff and runs for five yards. Now Marquise Brown gets the carry on an endaround and he breaks a big gain for 27 yards to Washington's 42-yard-line. 

Dobbs' pass to Conner loses a yard. Dobbs drops back to pass again and it's complete for 31 yards a wide-open Moore to the Commanders' 12-yard-line. Illegal use of hands in the face on Benjamin St-Juste is declined.

Arizona calls its first timeout with 1:43 left in the first. Dobbs' pass to Ertz in the end zone is incomplete. Dobbs keeps it and runs for two yards. On third and eight, Dobbs looks for Ertz again and it's also incomplete. 

Matt Prater's 28-yard field goal is good with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.

Commanders 7, Cardinals 3

End of possession

Prater's kickoff goes through the end zone for a touchback.

Howell scrambles and is pushed out of bounds after losing a yard. Howell's pass to Thomas is complete for 13 yards, but offensive pass interference on John Bates moves Washington back to its 14-yard-line on the final play of the first quarter.

End of the quarter

Second Quarter:

It's second and 21 for Washington. Howell drops back to pass and it's incomplete. Roughing the passer on Jonathan Ledbetter gives Washington a first down. 

Howell drops back to pass and he's intercepted by Zaven Collins at Washington's 29-yard-line.

End of possession

Dobbs' pass to Ertz gains four yards. Keaontay Ingram gets the handoff and loses three yards. Dobbs' pass on third down is incomplete. 

Prater comes out to attempt a 54-yard field goal and it's good with 13:26 left in the half.

Commanders 7, Cardinals 6

End of possession

Washington begins the drive at its 25-yard-line after the touchback. 

Robinson runs for six yards. He gets another carry and gains five more for a first down. 

Howell keeps it and runs for five yards. Gibson gets the carry and runs for three yards. On third and two, Howell finds McLaurin for a 20-yard gain to Arizona's 36-yard-line. 

Howell's pass to Samuel only gains a yard on first down. On second and nine, he finds Colt Turner for 17 yards to the Cardinals' 19-yard-line. 

Gibson gets the handoff and runs for four yards before fumbling and it's recovered by Collins for a turnover. 

End of possession

Arizona has the ball at its 15. Conner runs for a yard on first down. Dobbs' pass to Brown gains six yards, but an ineligible man downfield negates the play and makes it second and 14. Conner gets another carry and gains seven yards. On third and seven, Dobbs is sacked by Montez Sweat. 

Cooney's punt goes out of bounds at midfield with 6:17 left in the half. 

End of possession

Howell's pass to McLaurin is complete for 12 yards.

Howell keeps it and is stopped for no gain. He looks for McLaurin again but the pass is incomplete. On third and 10, Howell is sacked by Dennis Gardeck for an eight-yard loss. 

Way's punt is fielded by Greg Dortch at Arizona's 12-yard-line where he calls for a fair catch. 

End possession

Conner runs for four yards. Dobbs' pass to Trey McBride gains 13 yards to move the chains. 

Ingram is stopped for a four-yard loss. The game has reached the two-minute warning. Dobbs' pass to Ertz only gains three yards and Washington calls its first timeout with 1:55 left in the half. Dobbs scrambles for six yards before being pushed out of bounds on third and 10. Holding on D.J. Humphries is accepted by Washington so now it's third and 20. Dobbs' pass to Moore gains eight yards and the Commanders call their second timeout with 1:40 remaining in the half. 

Crowder fields the punt at Washington's six-yard-line and returns it to the 12-yard-line.

End of possession 

Howell's pass to Dotson gains 14 yards. 

Howell's pass intended for McLaurin is incomplete. Howell looks for Thomas and the pass is also incomplete. On third and 10, Howell is strip-sacked by Gardeck and it's recovered by Cameron Thomas and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. 

The extra point by Prater is good with 55 seconds left in the half.

Cardinals 13, Commanders 7

End of possession

Gibson returns the kickoff to Washington's 18. 

Howell's pass to Samuel is complete for 18 yards.

Howell's pass to Dotson is incomplete. On second and 10, Howell's pass to Thomas gains 19 yards to Arizona's 44-yard-line. Washington calls its final timeout with 19 seconds left in the half.

Howell's pass intended for Cole Turner is incomplete and nearly picked off. Howell finds Samuel for 33 yards and he's pushed out of bounds at Arizona's 11-yard-line. 

Howell throws it away with three seconds left. Slye comes out to kick a 30-yard field goal and it's good on the final play of the half. 

Cardinals 13, Commanders 10

Halftime

Third Quarter:

Arizona gets the ball at its 25-yard-line after the touchback. 

Dobbs' pass to Brown gains 12 yards.

Conner runs for six yards. Dobbs finds Michael Wilson for 15 yards to Washington's 42-yard-line. 

Dobbs' pass to Ertz gains five yards. Dobbs looks for Ertz again but the pass is incomplete. On third and five, Dobbs' pass to Brown gains nine yards to move the chains. 

Dobbs' pass to Conner turns into an 11-yard gain and Arizona is in the red zone. 

Dobbs' short pass to Moore only gains a yard. Dobbs completes a shovel pass to Conner but loses two yards. On third and 11, Dobbs' pass intended for Brown is incomplete. 

Prater's 37-yard field goal attempt is good with 10:09 left in the quarter.

Cardinals 16, Commanders 10

End of possession

Washington begins the drive at its 25 after the touchback. The rain is beginning to pick up.  

Howell's pass to Thomas gains six yards. Robinson runs for five yards to move the chains. 

Howell's pass to Dotson gains three yards. Robinson gets another handoff and runs for six yards for another first down. 

Robinson is stopped for one yard. On second and nine, Carlos Watkins sacks Howell for a seven-yard loss. On third and 16, Howell scrambles across midfield but holding negates the gain. On third and 25, Howell is sacked again, this time by Victor Dimukeje for a seven-yard loss. Howell has been sacked six times today.

Way's punt is fielded by Dortch at Arizona's 20-yard-line and ran back to the 24-yard-line. 

End of possession

Conner runs for 12 yards on first down. 

Conner has another solid gain for five yards. A false start moves Arizona back five yards. Conner runs for two yards. On third and eight, Dobbs' pass is incomplete. 

Crowder returns the punt six yards to Washington's 26-yard-line with 2:54 left in the third quarter. 

End of possession

Howell scrambles for a short gain, but offensive holding moves Washington back 10 yards. Howell's pass intended for Robinson is nearly intercepted and falls incomplete. Howell throws another incomplete pass, this time intended for Thomas. On third and 20, Howell's pass to Thomas is complete for 11 yards. 

Dortch returns the punt 10 yards to Arizona's 41-yard-line. 

End of possession

Ingram is stopped for a one-yard loss. Dobbs is sacked for a five-yard loss. On third and 15, Dobbs is strip-sacked by Montez Sweat and it's recovered by Daron Payne at Arizona's 29-yard-line. 

End of possession

Robinson runs for five yards on the final play of the third quarter.

End of the quarter

Fourth Quarter:

Robinson runs for seven yards to move the chains inside the red zone. 

Robinson has another good run for seven yards. Robinson runs for three yards for a first down at the Cardinals' eight-yard-line. 

Howell's pass is incomplete on first and goal. Christian Rodriguez runs for two yards. On third and goal from the six-yard-line, Howell scrambles into the end zone for a touchdown.  

The extra point by Slye is good with 11:48 left in the game.

Commanders 17, Cardinals 16

End of possession

The drive begins at Arizona's 25 after the touchback. 

Conner is stopped for a one-yard loss. Dobbs dumps it off to Conner and he loses another yard. On third and 12, Dobbs' pass to Moore gains just a yard. 

Crowder calls for a fair catch at Washington's 24-yard-line.

End of possession

Robinson runs for three yards on first down. Robinson is stopped for a four-yard loss on a backward pass. On third and 11, Howell's screen pass to Gibson gains 10 yards, leaving Washington a yard short of a first down. Washington is challenging if Gibson was short of a first down.

The challenge is unsuccessful. Dortch field the punt at Arizona's six-yard-line and he gains 13 on his return. 

End of possession

Dobbs' pass on first down is incomplete. Conner runs for eight yards to make it third and short. Conner runs for four yards to move the chains. 

Ingram is stopped for a three-yard loss. Ingram gets another carry and gains six. On third and seven, Dobbs' pass to Brown gains eight yards for another first down.

Dobbs scrambles and his pass is complete to Geoff Swaim but Will Hernandez was penalized for being an ineligible man downfield. On first and 15, Dobbs fumbles and it's recovered by Sweat at the Cardinals' 40-yard-line. Unsportsmanlike conduct on Arizona moves Washington to the 25-yard-line. 

End of possession.

Robinson is stopped for a one-yard gain. He gains another carry and gains three yards. On third and six, Robinson runs for three yards to Arizona's 15-yard-line. 

The 33-yard field goal by Slye is good with 2:23 left in the game.

Commanders 20, Cardinals 16

End of possession

Slye's kick goes for a touchback. Dobbs' pass to Wilson is complete for four yards. Dobbs' pass is incomplete but Washington is flagged for too many men on the field, making it second and one. Conner runs for two yards for a first down. The game has reached the two-minute warning.

Dobbs' pass to Conner gains three yards. On second and eight, Dobbs is sacked for an eight-yard loss by Jonathan Allen. Arizona calls a timeout with 1:22 left in the game. On third and 16, Dobbs' pass to Ertz is complete for seven yards. On fourth and 10, Dobbs' pass intended for Wilson is incomplete for a turnover on downs with 1:10 left in the game. 

End of possession

Robinson runs for two yards to Arizona's 35-yard-line. The Cardinals call their second timeout with 1:06 left. Robinson runs for three yards and Arizona calls its final timeout with a minute left. On third and five, Robinson runs for seven yards but offensive holding on Bates negates the game-ending first down. Rodriguez runs for three yards to make it fourth and nine. Washington takes a delay of game penalty with six seconds left. 

The punt is the final play of the game and Washington hangs on to win. 

FINAL: Commanders 20, Cardinals 16

Published
Nathaniel Marrero
NATHANIEL MARRERO

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