Picking Carson Wentz over Taylor Heinicke is like choosing heads or tails – they're two sides of the same coin with equal value.
The Washington Commanders want to change the team's free fall after not winning for the past month, so Wentz is the choice. Wentz's not better or worse than Heinicke, just different. The good news is this isn't a John Beck/Rex Grossman decision. More like a Mark Brunell/Jason Campbell standoff.
The Commanders beating the Cleveland Browns on Sunday isn't about the quarterback. It's about the defensive line handling Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. It's the offensive line protecting the passer and the running game carrying the offense. It's offensive coordinator Scott Turner not overthinking with cute plays.
Most likely, Wentz isn't the real factor or coach Ron Rivera failed when not immediately playing him when healthy. Instead, Rivera went with Heinicke on a roll. Now that Heinicke has cooled, the team needs a reboot with two games remaining. And, these two games will decide who returns next season at quarterback and maybe coaching.
In ranking the team's 34 starting quarterbacks since its last Super Bowl victory in 1991, Heinicke and Wentz are surprisingly close. Heinicke merits No. 10 and Wentz No. 12 with Rich Gannon between them.
Oh, the list is subjective and only the top five – Mark Rypien, Brad Johnson, Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith and Trent Green respectively – were considered good passers. The next level of Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, Gus Frerotte and Mark Brunell were decent.
But Washington fans are used to mediocre at best. After Heinicke-Gannon-Wentz, Grossman gets the nod over Colt McCoy, Donovan McNabb, Tony Banks, Kyle Allen, Jeff Hostetler, Heath Shuler and Jeff George to close out the top 20. Afterwards, it's throwing darts when choosing between the last 14, like Garrett Gilbert, Danny Wuerffel, Case Keenum, Mark Sanchez and such.
This time, Rivera has two different types of passers with similar stats. But, stats don't show what a baller Heinicke is or Wentz's downfield potential. So, toss the numbers.
The real question is which passer can win the next two games to make the playoffs. And don't dismiss making the postseason because Washington narrowly lost to Minnesota as the probable first-round opponent and beat second-round foe Philadelphia. The Commanders have a puncher's chance in the postseason after already throwing some haymakers.
Both of those victories were by Heinicke, but the offense just hasn't scored regularly under him. Those wins were by the defense. If Washington wants to win sudden-death games from now on, it needs a spark.
That's why Wentz gets the nod now and maybe in 2023 if playing well. Otherwise, look for the franchise's 35th starting passer to come next season.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
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