'Closer' Commanders D-Line's Dominant Force One of NFL's Best

The Washington Commanders showcased against the Arizona Cardinals why they have one of the best defensive line units in the NFL — and they were without Chase Young.

To end the third quarter, the Washington Commanders' pass rush was relentless, and it helped them escape Week 1 with a 20-16 win against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Commanders sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs three times and owned the line of scrimmage with disruption from defensive linemen Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat and Daron Payne. While Chase Young missed Week 1 with a neck injury, Washington's defensive line showcased Sunday why it can be one of the NFL's best units.

Washington recorded a sack or tackle for loss in all but one of Arizona's 11 drives.

“That's huge," head coach Ron Rivera said. "I mean because that gives us an opportunity to be successful. It really does. Those guys are solid guys. I mean, they get it. As we grow, and get better and better as a team, we'll see.”

With 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Dobbs ran the read option with wide receiver Rondale Moore coming across the formation. However, before Dobbs could make any sort of read at all, James Smith-Williams — Young's replacement — swallowed him up with Allen right alongside him.

One play later, Dobbs surveyed the field looking for an open receiver on 3rd-and-15, Sweat beat left tackle D.J. Humphries and swatted the ball out of his hand as he was loading up for a deep shot. Payne fell on the football which gave Washington's offense a short field.

The Commanders' 29-yard touchdown drive afterward — their longest of the second half — gave them a 17-16 lead.

However, the defense needed to hang tough for the final 12 minutes of the game.

"That's what we pride ourselves on; defense closing games," Sweat said. "I kept on telling them, Who is going to be the closer?"

Washington led 20-16 as Arizona was trying to put together one final comeback attempt with 1:29 to go in the fourth quarter, and Allen answered Sweat's call.

Allen got turned around while engaged in a block with Cardinals left guard Elijah Wilkinson and backed his way into Dobbs' lap for a sack that he didn't even have to use his hands for to set up 3rd-and-16. Arizona turned it over on downs two plays later, and the Commanders closed the game on their next offensive possession.

Washington's defensive line not only dictated Arizona's passing game, but reestablished the line of scrimmage in the ground game as well.

When a defensive line has a dominant performance, it makes everyone else's lives on the defense a lot easier. The linebackers are able to step up and plug running lanes easier while the defensive backs aren't tasked with covering receivers for as long.

It was a collective effort on the defensive line, as the unit accounted for 19 of Washington's 67 tackles, eight of its 11 for loss, each of its three sacks and all six of its hits on Dobbs.

After the win, Allen said the unit "made a lot of great plays," but still wants to get better. If there's a lot left in the tank for the defensive line in addition to Young's return from injury, then opposing quarterbacks beware.

"There's obviously going to be room for improvement and we got to be better if we’re going to go where we need to go," Allen said. "We’re going to accept the win, take it. We’re excited. We’re happy we pulled it out, and you know, grow from there.”

Washington returns to action Sunday on the road against the Denver Broncos. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m.