The Commanders' decision not to bring in this free agent could backfire as one new addition struggles in big moments once again

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Josh Taylor | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 7:27 AM ET

The Washington Commanders' loss to the Green Bay Packers showed a lot of flaws in the team, but one thing stood out that really frustrates the fan base.

Going into the season, we thought general manager Adam Peters had finally figured out a key position, but once again, the kicker situation is one to worry about in Washington. A lot of people were hoping for some type of competition before the season kicked off, and the answer was right there.

Matt Gay left points on the field

In a tough physical game against a really good team like the Packers, you can't afford to leave points on the field, and that's what Gay did. Gay went one for three in his field goal attempts, including making one from 51 yards out, but the misses from 52 and a controversial kick from 58 yards before halftime really put the Commanders behind. Head coach Dan Quinn said the 58-yard attempt was the right call before halftime, which fans strongly disagreed with because of Gay's struggles from beyond 50 yards.

"Yeah, that was the make line that we had for the end of the half," Quinn said. "So we thought we were just at the right spot, and coming back would give them a chance. They [Packers] missed one, but if we could get it into that space, that's what we thought at the end of the half. Going that direction, that would be decided."

Matt Gay's 58-yard FG attempt is no good. Turn over on downs. #NFL #Packers #commanders pic.twitter.com/a5kZfSNINx
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 12, 2025

The Commanders would've been down only three points with just under four minutes to go if Gay had made those two kicks. We saw kickers like Brandon Aubrey single-handedly win close games on Sunday, and a really good kicker can be a true weapon for a team. Making a kick from 50-55 is just expected these days, and Gay just isn't consistent nearly enough. We saw another kicker on Monday night win the game for his new team on only a 24-hour notice, and he could've been in Washington.

The missed opportunity

The Commanders had a really solid option that they could've at least brought in as competition with Gay, but instead, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons and helped them win a game with only 24 hours' notice. John Parker Romo was released by the Patriots after they decided to stick with the rookie they drafted, and they probably regret that decision as well. The Falcons played the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, and decided to let Romo kick over their veteran Younghoe Koo.

Romo went on to make all five of his kicks, including a 54-yarder in a low-scoring game where both offenses struggled. The Commanders may just regret sticking with Gay because of the one-year fully guaranteed contract they gave him this offseason. If he costs them the game in the next few games, the team may decide to make a move.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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