I was wrong about two things – two big things – with the Washington Commanders. Sam Howell is not the quarterback of the future and Ron Rivera should have been fired weeks ago.
The Commanders will draft a quarterback next spring if still holding the third overall pick. They can't afford repeating the Chase Young mistake that haunts them by taking a positional player over a passer. Quarterbacks are too important to bypass for a pass rusher, and it didn't help that Young was largely a bust. If Washington miraculously beats either San Francisco on Sunday or Dallas in the season finale and drifts back as far as No. 9 overall, then offensive tackle is the pick and maybe Washington re-signs Jacoby Brissett for one season.
But Washington needs a miracle to beat San Francisco or Dallas, two teams that may meet in the NFC Championship. Howell's rapid decline hints defensive coordinators finally saw enough film to neutralize him. That will scare the Commanders into quarterback shopping. So, the draft plan will be quarterback no matter what noise the incoming coach and general manager make over the offseason.
And, there will be a new coach and front office after yet another stupid loss on Sunday to the New York Jets. Five straight defeats that will stretch to seven to finish 4-13 have shown Rivera has nothing left.
After advocating to keep Rivera to season's end, the recent string of terrible efforts shows such thinking was short sighted. Washington is no longer just a bad team. The Commanders are an embarrassment that can resonate when seeking free agents in March. Washington trailed a bad New York team with a third-string quarterback 20-0 in one of the worst first halves in its post Super Bowl-championship era. That Brissett rallied the team for the second straight week was akin to scoring late in preseason games.
There's no accountability for players that know coaches will soon depart. However, the next coach will watch film of these closing weeks and plenty of players will be lucky to even play elsewhere next season, because they won't be here. But, that's another day.
Rivera arrived in Washington four years ago with a reputation of a hard case, demanding players do better after film sessions. Instead, none of that happened. When offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was hired earlier this year after winning two Super Bowls with Kansas City, he tried some tough love with Washington only to find persistent blowback by some players who took the easier path. Bieniemy hoped to use Washington to merit a head coaching job in 2024. Instead, Bieniemy's biggest suitor might be Kansas City seeking his return.
Rivera looks ready for retirement. Owner Josh Harris should have recognized it and made a move, but surely resisted not wanting to look reactionary like predecessor Dan Snyder. Inaction turned a probable seven- or eight-win team into a joke. And, that's never a good thing regardless of improved draft position. It sure won't sell tickets for Harris next season.
Washington should relieve Rivera now and give the job to Ryan Kerrigan for a couple games, because Bieniemy surely doesn't want it. Brissett should start just to see what he can do before the opponent is way ahead.
Either way, this nonsense is almost done. The final days of the Snyder stench will wash clean with newcomers trying to rebuild a franchise.
Good luck – they'll need it and more.
