LANDOVER, Md. — Washington Commanders restricted companion Magic Johnson delivered harsh criticism of his new crew following a 20-point loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night time.
After the Commanders misplaced 40-20 to the beforehand winless Bears, Johnson tweeted partly that “the Commanders performed with no depth or hearth. We did not compete within the first half. … It was too large of a gap to climb out of and that’s the reason we ended up shedding.”
Tonight the Commanders performed with no depth or hearth. We did not compete within the first half and bought down 27-3 heading into halftime. It was too large of a gap to climb out of and that’s the reason we ended up shedding 40-20.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 6, 2023
Johnson, who attended the sport, is one in all 20 restricted companions with new proprietor Josh Harris. Johnson has been extremely seen as a part of the franchise, between charitable occasions and attending video games.
However this was his first important tweet of his new crew. And the gamers didn’t disagree together with his evaluation. In spite of everything, Washington fell behind 27-3 at halftime.
“I would in all probability say that is fairly truthful,” Washington receiver Terry McLaurin stated.
“Positively,” defensive finish Montez Sweat stated. “We got here out flat.”
The Bears scored on every of their 5 possessions within the first half, typically due to missed tackles or blown coverages within the secondary. A protection that entered with two sacks recorded 4. And an offense that averaged 298 yards within the first 4 video games managed 451.
“We bought our ass kicked,” Washington defensive sort out Jonathan Allen stated.
Washington coach Ron Rivera stated he could not repeat his postgame message to the gamers however that briefly he advised them, “That is not ok.”
That is why nobody within the locker room was about to reject what Johnson tweeted. Nevertheless, some stated there have been different components.
“I imply, that is the notion if you’re down that fast, it appears like that,” Washington left sort out Charles Leno Jr. stated. “I am not going to say the fellows didn’t have any depth or urgency coming into the sport. I’d positively say it was an absence of execution early offensively; after they put up seven on the protection, we have to reply.”
McLaurin stated the Commanders’ intentions, after all, had been to not begin that manner. Nevertheless, he stated, intentions do not matter.
“It is what you placed on the sector,” McLaurin stated. “I do know we do not have a lazy bunch; I do know we do not have a non-intense group of men. That displaying isn’t reflective of us, however that is who we’re. We put that on tape. I would say that is a fairly truthful evaluation [by Johnson].”
Each groups had been coming off tough losses: Chicago had blown a 21-point lead at dwelling to Denver and Washington had misplaced in additional time in Philadelphia. However one crew was 2-2 and taking part in at dwelling; the opposite was winless and touring on a brief week.
“I do not know if we thought they was about to provide us the sport,” Sweat stated. “However them guys was hungry. They got here out with extra hearth than us.”
Johnson has been complimentary towards the Commanders after different video games. He lauded their effort in opposition to Philadelphia, saying he was proud and that he hoped that effort could be “a part of our DNA” all season. He tweeted after a comeback win in Denver about his pleasure watching the rally stay.
Nevertheless, Thursday he opted for a special message — one which was echoed within the locker room.
“When you do not get off to a quick begin,” McLaurin stated, “and a crew that is hungry like that, combating for each play, each yard and so they’re capitalizing, that is what can occur. The report did not actually matter. You do not come to play, that is what is going on to occur to you.”