We’ve got another quarterback controversy on our hands in DC, as Ron Rivera benched Taylor Heinicke in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the 49ers after two straight turnovers, and Carson Wentz came in and threw for 123 yards and a touchdown on just two drives.
And now, Rivera says, his starting quarterback for next week is TBD, in what is a hugely pivotal game against the Browns.
"We're gonna evaluate the tape, we'll talk about those things and I'll make a decision next week,” Rivera said. “And I'll make it early, too, because whoever's gonna start is gonna get the chance to work.”
Heinicke was 13-for-17 for 123 yards and two touchdowns when the Commanders scored to make it 21-14 San Francisco late in the third, but that was the beginning of the end. San Francisco kicked a field goal to make it 24-14, and on the second play of the ensuing drive, Heinicke was sacked and fumbled, giving the Niners the ball at the Commanders’ 11.
Washington held the Niners to a three-and-out (which in this case was another field goal), but second verse, same as the first: on the second play of the next drive, Heinicke was picked off by Jimmie Ward, and even though San Fran only got another field goal, Rivera had seen enough.
And so, with the Commanders down 30-14, it was Wentz time for the first time since he broke his finger on Oct. 13 against the Bears – although, he says, not all of the situation was Heinicke’s fault.
“I knew we were going to throw the ball, and the last thing we wanted was for them to tee off on (Heinicke),” Rivera said. “We wanted to give Carson a shot to throw the ball around and see where he is; not that I want to do the same to Carson, but I wanted to see where he was. A lot of those things weren’t necessarily (Heinicke’s) fault. To put all the turnovers on him would be tough.”
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“I get it, I was pretty banged up there, and the last two drives were two turnovers,” Heinicke added.
All Wentz did in his first action in two-plus months was go 7-for-10 for 73 yards on a touchdown drive, which brought it to 30-20 after Wentz was sacked on the ensuing two-point try. San Francisco scored a touchdown to go back up 17 but Wentz wasn’t to be denied, leading another drive in the two-minute drill where he was 5-for-6 for 50 yards before time ran out.
That’s 12-for-16 (75 percent) for 123 yards and a touchdown on one full and one time-truncated drive, almost besting Heinicke’s line from three-plus quarters in what looked like garbage time…even though Wentz thought Heinicke played well for a stretch, too.
“It was weird, and I feel for Taylor, because I thought he played well and was dealing,” Wentz said. “I was hyped for him, but obviously, the way the game ended was strange for everybody.”
The feeling, at least on the former, was mutual.
“He was ready for his moment, and I thought he did a good job,” Heinicke said of Wentz. “No one feels like there’s going to be any drop-off, because Carson has shown he’s a good player.”
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It’s no garbage, though, because now, it’s possible Wentz could start for the first time since his injury next week. Heinicke led the Commanders to a 5-3-1 record in Wentz’s absence, but after the tie with the Giants before the bye and two straight losses since, the leash may have been tightened.
“I thought he had pretty good command of what we were doing,” Rivera said of Wentz. “I thought he stood tall in the pocket, made some good decisions, and got the ball out fast. He did a good job, and it was important to see him; this is a little different offensive unit than the group he played with earlier, and I think there are some things that show what he can do when he can stand tall in the pocket.”
At 7-7-1, the Commanders are still in the seventh spot in the NFC, a half-game up on the Lions and Seahawks (and perhaps Packers after Sunday), so they do control their own destiny with two opponents that could be playing out the string – but the Giants’ magic number is one to clinch a playoff berth (and the sixth seed with it), so it’s likely seven seed or bust, and they still have to win at least one of two.
Looks like the first crack at that may go to Wentz, who was 2-4 with the Commanders earlier this year, last year, went 0-2 down the stretch as his Colts lost to two non-playoff teams in the Raiders and Jaguars (the latter finishing 3-14) to miss the playoffs.
“It is about the whole picture, and a lot will go into the decision of what I believe gives us the best chance to win football games,” Rivera said. “We’re still in a situation where we control our destiny, so if we win the last two, we’re in, and that’s up to us,” Rivera said.
“It’s just nice to be in control of our destiny,” added Wentz. There are a lot of unknowns, but I’m going to show up next week ready to work, and whatever happens, I’ll be ready for it.”
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And no matter who it is, Rivera expects the starter to have the full support of the backup – the way Heinicke did when he congratulated Wentz after his TD pass – because they’re both professionals.
“This league is crazy, and thankfully Taylor and I have a great relationship,” Wentz said. “We’ve supported each other all year, so we just try to go play and be the best we can be. We’ll both be ready for whatever comes our way.”
Added Heinicke: “It’s tough, and I just try to roll with the punches no matter what, and I’m going to continue that whether I’m starting or not.”