Looking Back At The Washington Commanders 2022 NFL Season

By Mark Solway | May 7th, 2023

It wasn’t a losing season, but it wasn’t a winning one either. It was a very mixed bag for the Washington Commanders in 2022. Despite an auspicious beginning, they were in the playoff hunt until the second last game of the season against the Cleveland Browns – a 24-10 defeat that dashed any hopes of a playoff game.

Who could forget the infamous comment from Head Coach Ron Rivera following the Browns loss?

“We can be eliminated?”

After the first game, it looked like maybe the Carson Wentz could work.

That didn’t last long.

Here’s a look at the entire season of events:

Overall record: 8-8-1

2022 Washington Commanders Schedule And Results

WEEK 1 · Sun 09/11 Win

Washington Commanders 28 – 22 Jacksonville Jaguars

The Carson Wentz experiment definitely looked like an experiment in game one. He threw interceptions on back-to-back plays and things looked bleak. He turned it around however, and went on to throw four touchdown passes. The Jaguars were viewed as a light opponent after their paltry 2021 season, but they ended up making the playoffs.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 2 · Sun 09/18 Loss

Washington Commanders 27  Detroit Lions 36

The Lions weren’t expected to be very good in 2022 either. They didn’t get their first win of the season in 2021 until week 13. But they got it in the second week of the season in 2022, after Jared Goff fired four touchdown passes – to of them to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Wentz threw another interception, but also threw three more touchdowns.

Ford Field | Game Center

WEEK 3 · Sun 09/25 Loss

Washington Commanders 8 – 24 Philadelphia Eagles

The first tough game on the schedule for the Commanders were their division rival Eagles. Obviously Wentz would be up for it playing the team that drafted him, right? He didn’t throw any interceptions, but he didn’t throw any touchdowns either and only managed 211 yards. Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith ran rough shod on Washington, with Smith catching eight passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 4 · Sun 10/02 Loss

Washington Commanders 10 – 25 Dallas Cowboys

Could the Commanders bounce back for another tough NFC East match-up against the Cowboys? With Cooper Rush spelling an injured Dak Prescott, Dallas seemed ripe for the picking. Instead, Wentz threw more interceptions than touchdowns and the Commanders would manage just 10 points and 170 yards passing. They did run the ball fairly well, but not enough to change the outcome. They lost their third straight to fall to 1-3.

AT&T Stadium | Game Center

WEEK 5 · Sun 10/09 Loss

Washington Commanders 17 – 21 Tennessee Titans

The Commanders needed a win and with the ball on the 1-yard line with six seconds to go and trailing by four, they appeared ready to do so. Instead, Wentz threw his sixth interception of the season, and the Titans were able to hang on for their third win of the season. Washington fell to 1-4 and the boo birds came-a-calling.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 6 · Thu 10/13 Win

Washington Commanders 12 – 7 Chicago Bears

Brian Robinson scored his first career touchdown after the Bears’ Velus Jones muffed a punt on his own 6-yard line, half way through the fourth quarter. That was the break Washington needed to snap their four game losing streak and move to 2-4. Wentz was ineffective – posting just 99 yards passing on 12 completions and being sacked three times. He broke his ring finger when his arm collided with Chicago’s Justin Jones on a pass, but he finished the game.

Soldier Field | GAMEDAY CENTER

WEEK 7 · Sun 10/23 Win

Washington Commanders 23 – 21 Green Bay Packers

Enter Taylor Heinicke. With Wentz sidelined by his broken finger, the fan favorite Heinicke got the start against the Packers and got the win. He wasn’t spectacular posting 201 yards on 20 completions, but he threw 2 touchdowns to his one interception and seemed to be an injection of life. Aaron Rodgers had a chance to steal a late win, but couldn’t manage to do so and Green Bay lost their third in a row for the first time since 2018.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 8 · Sun 10/30 Win

Washington Commanders 17 – 16 Indianapolis Colts

Heinicke got a little better and managed 279 yards on a 23/31 effort. Terry McLaurin had his biggest day of the season to that point, pulling in 6 passes for 113 yards. None were bigger than the 42-yarder that he wrenched away from the Colts defender inside the ten that set up a clutch touchdown scamper from  Heinicke with just 22 seconds to play. Washington moved to a respectable 4-4 and the Commanders “backup” quarterback had his second win in as many starts.

Lucas Oil Stadium | Game Center

WEEK 9 · Sun 11/06 Loss

Washington Commanders 17 – 20 Minnesota Vikings

The Commanders ran into a red hot Vikings team and couldn’t find enough answers to keep Kirk Cousins and his squad at bay. The former Washington quarterback was making his first appearance at Fed Ex as a visitor, and threw two touchdown passes in the win. Ultimately it was a 28-yard Greg Joseph field goal for Minnesota with 12 seconds left that sunk the Commanders.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 10 · Mon 11/14 Win

Washington Commanders 32 – 21 Philadelphia Eagles

Slaying the dragon. The very first 8-0 Eagles team would not be the very first 9-0 team as they fell to the Commanders. In a Monday Night stunner, Washington took advantage of a sloppy Eagles crew that turned the ball over four times. Late in the game, the Commanders caught a break and a Philadelphia defensive lineman was flagged for a late hit on Heinicke that extended Washington’s drive. Heinicke wasn’t spectacular but he finished 17 of 29 for 211 yards – 128 of them to Terry McLaurin. Washington also had 152 yards on the ground.

Lincoln Financial Field | Game Center

WEEK 11 · Sun 11/20 Win

Washington Commanders 23 – 10 Houston Texans

Kendall Fuller had a pick six and Heinicke improved to 4-1 as the starter as the Commanders rolled over the Houston Texans. In the first half, Washington out-gained the Texans 246 – 5, and built up a 20-0 lead. The Commanders got solid contributions from Antonio Gibson (18/72),Brian Robinson Jr. (15/57) and Curtis Samuel (3/18/1) on the ground, to rack up 153 yards rushing. Following the game, Ron Rivera announced that Heinicke was no longer the “backup”.

NRG Stadum | Game Center

WEEK 12 · Sun 11/27 Win

Washington Commanders 19 – 13 Atlanta Falcons

With a similar pattern as the game before, Washington got a critical interception from Kendall Fuller and rode the run game to victory. Fuller intercepted a ball in the end zone – tipped by Daron Payne – with just 58 seconds left to end the Falcons comeback hopes. Despite rainy conditions, the Commanders pounded out 176 rushing yards on 37 carries. Brian Robinson Jr. led the way with 105 yards. He also had a receiving touchdown. Washington improved to 7-5 on the season.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 13 · Sun 12/04/OT Tie

Washington Commanders 20 – 20 New York Giants

Riding a three game win streak into East Rutherford, the Commanders were looking to beat the Giants and improve their chances of landing a playoff spot. The Giants wanted to do the same. In the end, neither team got what they wanted, though both teams WERE holding down the last two playoff spots in the NFC at the end of the game. Heinicke had one of his best outings going 27 of 41 for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns. Washington again rode a strong run performance from Brian Robinson Jr. (21/96 yards) et al to put up 165 yards on 36 carries.

Metlife Stadium | Game Center

WEEK 14

BYE

WEEK 15 · Sun 12/18 Loss

Washington Commanders 12 – 20 New York Giants

In a strange scheduling happening, the Commanders faced the Giants two games in a row, albeit with a bye week in between. A similar performance from the offense with Heinicke going 17 of 29 for 249 yards, and the run game pounding out 159 yards, fell short in week 15. A controversial non-call on Darnay Holmes in the end zone at the very end of the game was a major sore point. Holmes was draped all over Curtis Samuels and what should have been a pass interference call just ended up being a failed fourth down attempt and the end of the game’s hopes for Washington. They fell to 7-6-1 and behind the Giants in the playoff hunt.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

WEEK 16 · Sat 12/24 Loss

Washington Commanders 20 – 37 San Francisco 49ers

Could Washington get back to winning ways against a surging 49ers team that was riding the coat tails of the league’s swan story Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy? No. Not even close. Heinicke had a rough outing throwing an interception and losing a fumble in the fourth quarter. Carson Wentz took over late in the fourth but had no miracles in him. Washington had now managed to go three games without a win, but surprisingly were still a half game ahead of the Saints and the Lions for the last playoff spot.

Levi’s Stadium | Game Center

WEEK 17 · Sun 01/01 Loss

Washington Commanders 10 – 24 Cleveland Browns

Ron Rivera chose to go with Wentz over Heinicke. It wasn’t a popular choice with either the fans, or the football gods. Wentz threw three interceptions – the Commanders got spanked by the Browns – and the playoff hopes of Washington were done. The offense managed just 260 total yards. In the post-game news conference, Rivera wasn’t even aware that the team had been ousted from playoff contention. “We can be eliminated?” Yes coach, four games without a win down the backstretch will do that to you.

Fed Ex Field

WEEK 18 · Sun 01/08 Win

Washington Commanders 26 – 6 Dallas Cowboys

With Washington having nothing left to play for, they turned the keys over to rookie quarterback Sam Howell in the final game of the season. The Cowboys had everything left to play for with home field advantage in the playoffs on the line, but laid an egg. Howell went 11 of 19 for 169 yards and ran for another 35, including a touchdown. He became the first quarterback since RGIII to throw and run for a TD in a game. Kendall Fuller had another pick-six, and the Commanders walked all over the Cowboys in the season finale.

Fed Ex Field | Game Center

Don’t Miss: Previewing the Washington Commanders 2023 NFL Season Opponents

Offense Vs. Defense Rankings

Points scored per game: 18.9 (24th)

Points allowed per game: 20.2 (8th)

Yards per game: 330.3 (20th)

Yards allowed per game: 304.6 (3rd)

Those four sets of numbers tell the story of how differently the defense and offense performed in 2022.

Commanders 2022 Team Statistics

Total Offensive Yards: 5615 (3783 passing, 2143 rushing)

Yards Allowed: 5178 (3252 passing, 1926 rushing)

Touchdowns: 35

Touchdowns allowed: 38

Sacks: 48

Sacks allowed: 43

Field Goals: 25/30

Turnover Ratio: -5

3rd Down Conversions: 35.2%

Commanders 2022 Individual Statistics

Rushing Yards: Brian Robinson 797

Receiving yards: Terry McLaurin 1191

Receiving touchdowns: Jahan Dotson 7

Tackles: Jamin Davis 104

Sacks: Daron Payne 11.5

Points: Joey Slye 99

Commanders Stats from NFL.com