1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center podcast. I'm Bram Weinstein. Commanders 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: fell to the San Francisco forty nine ers thirty seven 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: to twenty in their Christmas Eve trip to the Bay Area. 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: Former Washington players Logan Paul Said and Fred Spot joined 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: me to break down what happened in the Week sixteen matchup. 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: All right, let's just start really here with the elephant 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: in the room, which is a decision is going to 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: be made this week whether to stick with Taylor heinekere 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: go to Carson Wentz. What do you think so far here? 10 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: I mean, I think this is this is kind of 11 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: they've they've given us the answer to the test already, 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: you know, Bram, Like, there's no question here, it's Carson 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: Wentz will be the starter next week. I think they 14 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: want to know. They want to finish their evaluation of them. 15 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: Obviously started six weeks this year, not enough to kind 16 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: of complete the evaluation. In my opinion, you want to 17 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: see what we can do. Obviously, Taylor Heineken did an 18 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: excellent job getting this team where they are today in 19 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: terms of record, and I think I had an outstanding 20 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: game yesterday for the most part, outside of those two turnovers. 21 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: That he had at the start of the fourth quarter. 22 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: But I think you got to see wins well. You 23 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: know sometimes the saying your marriage, you need to change 24 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: the environt Now you're going to think of about it. 25 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: We know we could We've seen Carson Wentz inside this offense, 26 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: but we was a pass happy offense at that time. 27 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: Now with him back in the ham, do we continue 28 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: to be a run first team. I want to see 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: him in the end. I think they think he can 30 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: push the ball down the field on play action, and 31 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: I think that gives us a chance to be spending. 32 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: There's one unusual caveat. Obviously, Heneke's very liked in the 33 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: locker room. Playoffs are still very much emplayed for them. 34 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: This isn't a we're playing out the string type of situation. No, 35 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: I think that's it. That's exactly right. It's a great 36 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: point because, like you know, Taylor, Heney's from the guy 37 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: that's kind of gotten you this momentum, gotten you this 38 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: kind of charisma within the team, and you know, can 39 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: he kind of can is he the guy to kind 40 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: of continue to make players? I don't know, But I 41 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: really think the deciding factor here is they want to 42 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: know what they have with Carson Wentz and whether he's 43 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: there the answer quarterback movie forward. We all know Heneke 44 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: has a rudy effect. I called him rudy, like you 45 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: want to know, guys, he braves the best out of him. 46 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: He's the guy that guys looked for at the end 47 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: of the game to put him on his shoulder. He's 48 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: that guy. But at the end of the day, we 49 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: got two games to get in the playoffs, and I 50 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: think they want to give cars in this chance to say, 51 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: you know what, take us to the Promised Land. What 52 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: did you make of the defense? There were times really 53 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: look good. They stop the rush offense, and they give 54 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: up way too many big plays. I mean, I think 55 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: when you look at the defense, you gotta look at 56 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: the offense like you're giving the ball back to that 57 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 1: San Francisco offense, which is very, very potent in very 58 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: advantageous situations. I think, multiple times inside the thirty like, 59 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: that's just not a tenable solution. Obviously, there were some mistakes, 60 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: some coverage bust, but I think when you look at 61 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: the general scope of the game, you gotta say, offensively, 62 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: they did not hold up their end of the bargain. 63 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: They put the defense in a bad spot against a 64 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: very very good football team. Average star in line for 65 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: the forty nine is with the forty four of San Francisco. 66 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: You cannot put your defense in those type of situations. 67 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 1: But I could say this about the defense. They did 68 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: stand up in their first half. They did go blow 69 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: to blow with San Francisco, and Logan talked about this 70 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 1: the one thing we could take out of this game. 71 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: This was a measuring instate game. The forty nine is 72 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: one of the best rosters in the best teams in 73 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: the league right now, and you win blow for blow 74 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: with them for the least three quarters. Some invisible yards 75 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: lost in the return game too, would started inside their 76 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: own twenty multiple times on Saturday. That's gonna be hard 77 00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: to get to the number one defense. Let's talk about 78 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: shown for a minute. Played more than I think anybody 79 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: thought you would, and he was effective at times too, 80 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: So that was really good time to see him that. Yeah, 81 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: I don't think I was surprised that he played as 82 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: much as he did. I think when you're up, you're 83 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: gonna play in a big game, you're gonna play, And 84 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: I think it was great to see his conditioning be 85 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: in such a good spot in his physicality. F Yeah, 86 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: like you just seemed for a guy whodn't played a 87 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 1: lot of football, looked like he didn't really miss the beat, 88 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: had some nice rushes against maybe the best left tackling football. 89 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: I was really happy to see him out there. Totally 90 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: exceeded my expectation. I used to be a big fan 91 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: of tag team wrestling. You know, when you the wrestler 92 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: just sitting there waiting to get tag, you just you 93 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: just can't wait to get in there. And that's what 94 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: I saw from from him. He just I need to 95 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: get in I need to get in there. So it 96 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: was good to see him out there. You know what 97 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: I did enjoy it. I enjoy seeing this smile on 98 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: his I'd enjoy seeing him having fun. And that's what 99 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: he brings to his team. Not only does he bring 100 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: a top, nice, deepense in he brings the attitude and 101 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: a love for the game that can't be replaced. The 102 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: playoffs are still in the picture for Washington. Two games 103 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: remaining in the regular season, and we've talked about how 104 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: the Commanders still control their own destiny. They got all 105 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: the help that they needed again two games to go. 106 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: Else can you ask for here, I mean, win out 107 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: two games at home, you're in. I mean, that's exactly 108 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: what you want, right Fred. I mean I don't know 109 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: a lot about playoff football. You know, all the math 110 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: of the charts and the astrology things, all that kind 111 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: of stuff. But what I do like is that we 112 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: control our own destiny. We win games we're in, And 113 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: that's exactly what you want. If you're coaching this team, 114 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: and if you're playing for him, Tom, that's when you 115 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: look at everybody in the locker room and say, it's 116 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: own us. The onus has owned us. We control everything. 117 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: Do you want to get in the first round? Who 118 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: we want to play? We set that up, and we 119 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: set everything up by how we go out of here 120 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: and play eight quarters eight quarters of football. Left pressures 121 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: on them this weekend too, Cleveland is eliminated. So this 122 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 1: is an AFC team at home, nothing to play for. 123 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: Everything on the line for Washington this weekend. But you know, 124 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: Cleveland's one of those teams. They've got some talented pieces, 125 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: right they know Miles Garrett on the defensive defensive line, 126 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: you can just break, break breaking offensive game plan. Chubb 127 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 1: is one of the best running backs in the NFL, 128 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: and Watson has slowly been kind of creeping back nowhere 129 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: nearer it was a couple of years ago. But yeah, 130 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: very very talented player, very dangerous team. And at the 131 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: end of the day, these out of football games you 132 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: live for, you live, but these four quarters that were 133 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: and that not only do you live for these games, 134 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: you got these games at home. So we gonna need watching. 135 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: We gonna need the DMB to be in fitnex to 136 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: hipless in these last eight quarts, all right, So if 137 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: they were to make it would be likely as the 138 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: seventh seed at this point, they need the Giants to 139 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: lose out to win out to jump them as a six. 140 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: Right now, they could play Philadelphia possibly if for some 141 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: reason that went wrong. So that means Dallas is unlikely, 142 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: but possibility Minnesota, San Francisco or the two that kind 143 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: of sit there. You got what you want? Who do 144 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: you want? Kirk? Obviously? I mean we all want And 145 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: it's not because of Kirk. It's because Minnesota is not 146 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: as good a team of San Francisco. We're not as 147 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: good as team as Dallas. Like we want the team 148 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: that we can beat, and I don't think we can 149 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: beat them. Well, it'll be a tight game. And don't 150 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: forget this. This team has won eleven one score games. 151 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: So this team is gonna play you to the Wirior. 152 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: But I got faith that we could go to Minnesota 153 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: and come back with him after it did turn into 154 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: Chicago here over the weekend. Yeah, going out to that 155 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: sixty degree whether it's San Francisco, was it terrible? Yeah? 156 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: But I like our chances against Minnesota if they were 157 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: to play them, Yes, if they were to play them, yeah, 158 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: as compared to San Francisco, who is. But we're not 159 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: running away from any bad alright, get they right? We're 160 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: not running away for anybody. You like that, you like, 161 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: We're not running you like that. For all your news 162 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: and analysis, be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights 163 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: five and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can 164 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: also stream on YouTube and commanders dot Com. Hail to 165 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: the Commanders.