Ron Rivera was recalling the night of January 8.
Albert Breer, Senior NFL Reporter and Lead Content Strategist for Monday Morning Quarterback, tells the story in his latest work.
Washington had defeated Dallas in the 2022 season finale. Rivera and wife Stephanie were headed back home. Washington had entered the final game at 7-8-1, having been eliminated the previous week when they lost to the Browns 24-10.
Rivera had told Taylor Heinicke he would start the final game, and Heinicke apparently let Rivera know that the wisest thing to do was start rookie Sam Howell in the otherwise meaningless game.
Howell proceeded to complete 11 of 19 passes with a touchdown and interception in the Commanders’ 26-6 victory over the Cowboys. Howell was not stellar, but he did appear, for the most part, in control.
Apparently, before the Rivera’s were inside their home, Coach Ron had determined he was going to convey to Howell at their next meeting Sam would be QB1, that a veteran would be signed to come and also compete for the job. It was Sam’s job to lose.
Oh, the historical revisionism that is going to take place by Commanders fans. Yes, there were the very select few (one of them an acquaintance of mine) who had gone public that Rivera should start Howell much earlier in the season.
Eight out of 10 Commanders fans were glad Rivera had turned to Heinicke over Wentz. They were not at the time declaring Sam Howell would get them to the playoffs. Oh, they will be out in full force tonight and tomorrow telling you how they were, but most of us know better.
It was not until the Commanders were eliminated by the Browns that many of us said it was time to play Sam Howell; I was one of them. Having not played a down since the preseason, I never dreamed Howell was ready.
Coach Ron is going to be crucified for this admission to Albert Breer. That’s how most fanatics are. They are unfair, rarely applying the same standards to themselves that they demand of others.
Some will even claim that had Rivera played Howell against the Browns, the Commanders would have won and made the playoffs. First of all, you can’t honestly assert such. You have absolutely no idea how Sam Howell would have played in his first game when so much was on the line. You only know how he played in the finale with no playoff pressure on him.
Yes, Coach Rivera should have known the Commanders were eliminated with the loss to the Browns. In addition, there should have been several informing the head coach that week of the possibilities. There is much blame to go around on that one.
I have no problem whatsoever with Rivera admitting that Howell really surprised him with how well he handled himself in the final game.