Oct 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders place kicker Joey Slye (6) kicks a field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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Washington Commanders football coach Ron Rivera has always been a gambler when it comes to decisions during a game. He did it with the Carolina Panthers and he is still doing it with the Commanders. Sunday, he called on former Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye to try a ridiculous field goal attempt against the Philadelphia Eagles and the former Hokie came through.
Joey Slye boots a long field goal at the end of the first half
Leading the top team in the NFC East 14-10 at the end of the first half, Rivera called on Slye to attempt a 61-yard field goal. The 27-year-old was more than for the challenge as he drilled the attempt, marking the longest not only in his career but also the longest in franchise history.
Slye’s previous long was 58 yards and it should not be surprising to see him make it as the undrafted kicker has always had a big leg.
Sly’e teammate and former Virginia Tech alum Kendall Fuller had five tackles in the game, four solo, but it wasn’t enough as Philadelphia was able to hold on for a wild 38-31 victory, dropping the Commanders to 3-5.
Regardless, it was a day that Slye is not going to forget for a long time.
It was not as good of a day for former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor with the New York Giants, who left the game against the New York Jets with a rib injury and did not return. He had taken over under center for the Giants in the absence of starting quarterback Daniel Jones who has been injured. The veteran QB struggled in his first start against the Buffalo Bills and New York even brought in some quarterbacks to work out, but they decided to stick with Taylor until his injury forced him to leave and be checked out at a hospital.
