The Washington Commanders looked terrible for about 36 minutes in Sunday’s Week 16 game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
The Commanders struggled across the board in the first half. Curtis Samuel dropped quarterback Sam Howell’s first pass. On the next play, Howell’s pass to tight end Logan Thomas went through his hands and into the arms of a New York defender, and the Jets were off to the races.
The Jets would eventually open a 20-0 lead against Washington, scoring only their second and third first-quarter touchdowns of the season on Sunday.
New York would hold a 27-7 lead midway through the third quarter when head coach Ron Rivera benched Howell. Jacoby Brissett entered the game and, much like last week, led a rejuvenated Commanders offense, scoring on his first three drives. Suddenly, Washington held a 28-27 lead in the fourth quarter.
However, Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein drilled a 54-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to save New York from an embarrassing loss, as the Jets held on for a 30-28 win.
It was after Howell’s second interception that Rivera decided to bench him. On both of Howell’s interceptions, he didn’t receive help from his teammates, but after a season in which he’s been sacked 60 times, Howell looks like a completely different player than the guy from the first 10 weeks.
With two games remaining against stellar defensive teams (San Francisco and Dallas), perhaps sitting Howell may be the right decision. That wouldn’t have been the case before, but the Commanders haven’t looked competent offensively with the struggling youngster over the last two games.
Rivera said last week he sat Howell to protect him. That wasn’t actually the case. But in sitting Howell for the final two games, he would be protecting him.