Mr. Smith conquers Washington
Alex Smith was a lock to be named the NFL comeback player of the year before Monday.
But after what he did — and how he did it — against the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers, the Washington Football Team quarterback has to be viewed as the comeback player of the last two decades.
He is the most deserving player of the award since The Associated Press made Buffalo Bills QB Doug Flutie its inaugural winner in 1998.
Smith, you may recall, needed 17 surgeries to save his right leg after breaking both the tibia and fibula in a 2018 game against the Houston Texans. Along with the consideration of amputation, he endured a life-threatening infection.
In the past month, the 36-yearold has not only returned to play, but has taken over as Washington's starter and led the team to a share of first place in the NFC East.
The latter he accomplished by erasing a 14-point deficit with 20 points in the second half against a team that has surrendered a league-low 17.6 points a game.
Smith led Washington to a 23-17 win over the Steelers by completing 31 of 46 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. He didn't throw a single interception against a defence that leads the league with 16 picks.
And in a Hollywood-like twist, he orchestrated the victory after suffering a gruesome first-half injury on his left leg, his good one. Smith was “cleated” on his left shin, above the ankle. He made it to the intermission resembling Boston pitcher Curt Schilling during Game 6 of the 2014 ALCS — only about 10 times worse — with blood soaking his white sock. The gash created a bubbling effect like a pot on the stove boiling over.
“I could visually see the blood pumping out, so it was a good one,” Smith said afterward, via ESPN. “I was lucky to have it happen just before halftime. I've never had one gush like that.”
Smith received medical attention at halftime — a cleaning and bandaging but no stitches — then returned to direct the Football Team to seven unanswered points in the third quarter and a 13-3 advantage in the fourth.
After a performance at Heinz Field that left the Steelers 11-1 and improved Washington to 5-7, and tied for first with the Giants, Smith spoke about the learning benefits the night provided for his young team.
“You don't get that confidence without having done it,” he said. “So for us, I think a big win that we'll take with us, knowing we can go on the road and playing with anybody.”
Washington was already giving us a story to cheer for, with likable head coach Ron Rivera continuing to do his job as he fights cancer.
If Washington can go into Pittsburgh and put the sole blemish on the Steelers' record while picking up its third straight win, there may be no stopping this Football Team.