Tag: 2020 Washington Foootball Team

Sam Howell becomes number 8 for Commanders Ron Rivera

Sam Howell becomes the eighth quarterback to start a game for the Commanders under Ron Rivera.

Sam Howell’s jersey number is 14; in addition, he becomes number 8 for Ron Rivera.

Sunday, when Sam Howell gets his first NFL start against NFC East rival Dallas, Howell will be the eighth quarterback to play the position for Washington in Ron Rivera’s three seasons as head coach.

It has been much more crowded behind center for the Burgundy and Gold than the majority of NFL teams. This season saw Rivera go with Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, Wentz again and now Howell in Sunday’s season finale at FedEx Field.

The 2021 season saw Rivera start Ryan Fitzpatrick, Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert and then Heinicke again. Also, Rivera pulled Heinicke during both losses to the Cowboys, choosing to play Kyle Allen the rest of the way.

Rivera’s first season in Washington was chaotic at quarterback. Rivera started Dwayne Haskins, then benched Haskins for Kyle Allen. Allen broke his ankle, and Rivera bypassed Haskins and went with Alex Smith.

Smith’s limited leg began to break down, and Rivera had to go back to Haskins. Haskins played so poorly that he was benched against the Panthers for Tyler Heinicke. Smith returned to play the season finale in Philadelphia, but the leg so restricted Smith that Rivera gave Heinicke his first start in the playoff game against Tampa Bay.

It’s been a wild and frustrating ride at quarterback for Rivera, perhaps best illustrated by the fact that he traded two second-day draft picks for Wentz. However, after his woeful play in the loss to the Browns, Wentz may likely not even be active in the season finale.

Enter Sam Howell into the quarterback equation. Just this week, one of the more respected analysts of the Commanders, Logan Paulsen, expressed, “From what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, Sam is not ready”.

Might it be a baptism by fire for Howell against the Cowboys?

As an eighth day begins a new week, here’s to hoping the eighth quarterback for Rivera in Washington, Sam Howell, will mark a new beginning for the Burgundy and Gold.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Remembering a 2020 Washington Monday Night football Win

Remember when Washington went on the road in 2020 and took down 11-0 Pittsburgh?

Here are the Eagles, the biggest favorite of Week 10 at 11 points over the Commanders. The Commanders go on the road up to Philly to face the 8-0 Eagles on Monday Night Football.

Interestingly enough, three of the last four NFL teams to get to 8-0 lost their next game. The 2018 Rams lost to the Saints 45-35. The 49ers were 8-0 in 2019 but lost to the Seahawks 27-24. Also in 2019, the 8-0 Patriots were clobbered in Baltimore 37-20. The Steelers broke the trend beating up the Bengals 36-10 in 2020 to go to 9-0.

In fact, that Steelers team made it to 11-0. How many of you recall what happened to Pittsburgh in their next game?  Well, the Washington Football Team went up to Pittsburgh on December 7, 2020, and handed the Steelers their first loss of the season, 23-17.

Washington entered that game 4-7 but had won its last two games, defeating the Bengals 20-9 at FedEx Field and then the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas 41-16.

So when Pittsburgh jumped on Washington 14-0 with two first-half Ben Roethlisberger touchdown passes, it seemed very likely that the Steelers would finish the night 12-0.

However, when Dustin Hopkins banged in a 49-yard field goal with 1 second remaining in the half, things changed in the minds of Washington players. They took the second-half kickoff, marched 82 yards for a Peyton Barber 1-yard run, and suddenly, it was a game. Washington now trailed only 14-10.

When the Steelers led 17-10 early in the final quarter, Washington drove 53 yards in 8 plays, with Alex Smith connecting with Logan Thomas from 15 yards, tying the game 17-17.

On their next possession, Washington drove 45 yards in nine plays, and Hopkins’ 45-yard field goal gave Washington their first lead at 20-17. Hopkins then added another 45-yard field goal for the final 23-17 margin.

Washington had won their third consecutive game and made it four consecutive, winning 23-15 the next week at San Francisco. On the final week of the season, Washington defeated the Eagles on Sunday Night Football 20-14 to finish 7-9 and atop the NFC East.

History may be on Washington’s side Monday Night. However, it will be a tremendous challenge to win this game in Philly. One thing for certain. the Commanders offensive line will have to perform MUCH better than the first Eagles game, a 24-8 rout by the Eagles at FedEx. On that Sunday, the Eagles sacked Carson Wentz 9 times, accumulating a mind-boggling 17 QB hits.