Commanders Beat Broncos: 3 Takeaways From Washington's Comeback Victory
It was a win of historic proportions for the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders dug out of an 18-point hole in the first half to win 35-33 over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Washington's win marked the largest comeback since 1990 and its first 2-0 start since 2011.
How exactly did the Commanders get the job done? Here are three takeaways from their win ...
Washington shows resiliency for the second straight week:
Things looked eerily similar to last season when the Commanders fell behind 21-3 with 9:01 left in the second quarter.
But this isn't last year's Commanders.
Washington clawed back to score 18 unanswered points and outscored Denver 32-3 until Denver kicked a field goal with under two minutes left in the game.
Nothing shows a team's character like how they respond when their back is against the wall. Last season's Washington team likely would have folded and set its sights on next week. Instead, they engineered the franchise's biggest comeback in 33 years.
The Commanders' schedule only gets tougher and they'll likely have to endure more tough stretches. But if Sunday is any indication, Washington is more than capable of weathering the storm and fighting back after its second straight comeback victory to begin the season.
Brian Robinson emerging:
The best way to help a young quarterback is to establish a strong running back. Brian Robinson is proving to be more than up to the task for Sam Howell and Washington's offense.
The second-year running back put together the best performance of his young career with 18 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two catches for 42 yards.
If Robinson can continue to perform like this, it'll add another dimension to a Washington offense that's still improving under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Chase Young finding his form:
Few players have endured a tougher road than Chase Young.
Injuries have limited the former No. 2 overall pick and have caused him to miss significant time since 2021. In his first appearance of the 2023 season, Young looked like the guy Washington thought he'd become when they drafted him in 2020.
The fourth-year defensive end had 1.5 sacks and a tackle-for-loss on Sunday. If Young can continue to perform as he did against the Broncos, he'll take an already strong Commanders defense to another level.