13 Receptions by Chris Thompson

It’s probably never a good thing when your running back has 13 receptions in one game. Now that’s not to knock Thompson, who is arguably the game’s premier third-down back, but it’s more of an indictment of Smith choosing not to go downfield and safely checking down to Thompson.

The Redskins are wise to get Thompson the ball as much as possible each week. But how Thompson was employed on Sunday is not ideal. Often, Thompson would leak out of the backfield and Smith would go to him on his initial read. Not a designed play. Thompson is at his best lined up all over to exploit mismatches.

Another area of concern was Thompson’s four carries. Gruden must get Thompson more opportunities to carry the football.

As for the 13 receptions, Smith gets the benefit of the doubt in this one. He can say he took what was given to him and perhaps that’s true. But where was the sense of urgency down two scores late in the fourth quarter? At some point, Smith needed to push the ball down the field to his receivers instead of checking down to Thompson.

Thompson is a legitimate star and, along with Trent Willians and Jordan Reed, probably Washington’s best players on offense. However, him catching 13 passes in a game is reminiscent of the infamous John Beck/Roy Helu performance from 2011, which is never a good thing to be compared to for Smith.