The Washington Commanders’ season has been marred by regrets, and the recent performance of quarterback Sam Howell exemplifies their woes.
Howell found himself benched during the game against the New York Jets, marking the second consecutive week he faced such a fate. In this case, the benching was entirely justified as Howell had thrown two interceptions, completed only 6 of 22 passes, and boasted a dismal quarterback rating of 1.7 when he left the game.
The role of savior fell upon Jacoby Brissett, the backup quarterback, who promptly led the Commanders to multiple touchdowns. Unfortunately, the team fell short, surrendering a game-winning field goal to the Jets, resulting in a 30-28 defeat.
However, the larger issue at hand is the Commanders’ commitment to Howell at the start of the season. They initially saw potential in the 2022 fifth-round draft pick and placed their faith, trust, and confidence in him, only to witness Howell’s decline as the season progressed.
Howell’s recent performances have been disheartening, with two consecutive games in which he completed less than 50% of his passes and three straight with completion rates below 55%. He also threw eight interceptions in the last five games, indicating a clear regression in his play.
This begs the question: What did the Commanders achieve by steadfastly sticking with Howell? The answer is likely one that the organization won’t want to hear because it could lead to personnel changes. Coach Ron Rivera’s job security has been in question as the team suffered six consecutive losses, and Howell’s struggles have exacerbated the situation.
Rivera’s decision to trust Howell for an extended period, especially as the season reached its critical stages, could be a costly mistake. The recent game against the Jets provides compelling evidence of this misjudgment. When Brissett took over late in the third quarter with the Commanders trailing 27-7, the offense underwent a dramatic transformation. Brissett completed 10 of 13 passes, threw a touchdown pass (equaling Howell’s touchdown count since November 23), and revitalized the team’s performance.
One can’t help but wonder what might have transpired if Rivera had made the switch to Brissett earlier. Could it have salvaged the season? These are questions that owner Josh Harris may rightfully pose to his coach. Why did Rivera return to Howell against the Jets when Brissett had demonstrated his ability? Moreover, why did it take so long for Rivera to reinsert Brissett into the game, especially when it was evident that Howell was struggling?
Howell, at just 23 years old, has shown glimpses of promise this season but has mostly delivered solid, not consistently outstanding, performances. So why did Rivera, who has made changes to his offensive and defensive coordinators in the past year, hesitate to explore other options?
The argument that the Commanders wanted to evaluate Howell for the next season doesn’t hold water, as everyone was aware that jobs were on the line this year. The Commanders are now facing tough questions and answers that may not favor Ron Rivera or Sam Howell.