Sam Howell designated as Washington Commanders' primary QB.
Washington's head coach, Ron Rivera, has announced that Sam Howell will be the starting quarterback for their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. Sam Howell becomes the sixth different quarterback to start the season opener for Washington since Kirk Cousins left in 2018. In 2022, the Commanders finished with an 8-8-1 record, narrowly missing out on a spot in the NFC playoffs.
Three teams from the NFC East secured playoff spots, but the Commanders weren't one of them. This marked the only division in the NFL where all teams had a winning record. The Dallas Cowboys clinched the #5 seed and the New York Giants were the #6 seed as NFC wild-card teams. The Philadelphia Eagles won the division crown and the #1 seed, giving them a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Although the Eagles reached the NFC Championship, they ultimately lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Howell was selected by the Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of North Carolina. He initially watched from the sidelines throughout his rookie season until the final game of the season. Carson Wentz served as the starting quarterback for the Commanders in 2022. With the team's playoff aspirations no longer feasible, Rivera and the organization wanted to see what Howell could do. In Week 18, Howell earned his first career start against the Cowboys.
Howell stood out with his performance, completing 57.9% of his passes for 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed five times for 35 yards and a touchdown. His accomplishment marks the first time a Washington quarterback has thrown a touchdown and rushed for a touchdown in the same game in a decade; Robert Griffin III was the last to do so in 2012.
Coach Rivera praised Howell, saying, "It's about the QB making plays they're supposed to make, and every now and then when you need a big play, make a big play." The Commanders emerged victorious in a 26-6 victory. The Cowboys fielded their starting lineup in Week 18 in an attempt to win the division title and secure a more favorable playoff seed. Howell's performance hindered the Cowboys' chances of claiming the NFC East and ended the season on a high note for Washington.
The Commanders' biggest offseason move involved hiring Eric Bieniemy as their new offensive coordinator. The hiring raised some eyebrows, as Bieniemy was a strong candidate for a head coaching position. Bieniemy helped the Kansas City Chiefs win two Super Bowls, including Super Bowl LVII.
With Howell, veteran Jacoby Brissett, and inexperienced Jake Fromm on the roster, the Commanders parted ways with Carson Wentz. Brissett has a career record of 18-30 as a starter, including a 4-7 record in 2022 with the Cleveland Browns. He has started 30 games with the Indianapolis Colts, 11 with the Browns, five with the Miami Dolphins, and two with the New England Patriots.
Rivera knew Brissett could step in if Howell fell short, but Howell impressed throughout training camp. Howell earned the starting job with his performance in their first preseason game, where the Commanders beat the Browns 17-15. Howell completed 9-for-12 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.
After their second preseason game, Rivera, Bieniemy, and quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard had a meeting to discuss which quarterback would be the starter. They all agreed Howell was ready for the starting role.
Howell expressed his excitement, saying, "This means a lot. All my work is ahead of me. This is only the beginning." Bieniemy expressed his support, "Sam is in a really good spot. He's a guy that's growing." Rivera acknowledged the progress Howell had made in his decision-making process.
In his fourth season as the Commanders' head coach, Rivera has a 22-27-1 record. He's yet to deliver a winning season since replacing Jay Gruden in 2020. Washington finished with the second-worst record in the NFL in 2020, but managed to capture the division title with a 7-9 record and a playoff berth. There are suggestions that the Commanders hired Bieniemy with the expectation that he would assume the head coach role if Rivera didn't produce a winning season in 2023.
The Commanders are predicted to have a win total of 6.5 over/under for the season. The under pays -120, while the over offers even money at +100. Rivera and the Commanders will kick off their season against the Cardinals in Week 1 with Sam Howell under center.
Washington's outsider choice for the job of offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, is already generating a buzz after helping the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowl victories. The decision to leave a potentially lucrative head coaching offer in order to work in Washington had many initially skeptical, but Bieniemy, who had been widely tipped to be in contention for a head coaching role himself, has committed to helping the Commanders strengthen their offensive unit and reverse recent fortunes.
"Him being here has made a big difference," said Rivera of Bieniemy's impact.
The military leaders have a 3-to-1 chance of qualifying for the playoffs, as indicated by a DraftKings proposal bet. They're strongly favored at -370 odds to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year under Rivera.
This team boasts an impressive history, with four Super Bowl victories between the years 1982 and 1991, including consecutive championships in '82 and '83. They haven't claimed a conference title or won another Super Bowl since '91.
With regard to championship potential, the Commanders are given 65-to-1 odds of winning Super Bowl LVIII, and 4,000-to-1 odds of winning the NFC Championship.
The Eagles are tipped to win the NFC East, standing at -135 odds, with the Cowboys in second place at +190, while the Giants are ranked +850. The underdog Commanders are listed at +1600.
During the early part of the week, the Indianapolis Colts announced their selection of first-year quarterback Anthony Richardson as their starting QB for Week 1. The Tampa Bay Bucs have yet to choose their starter, but Baker Mayfield seems to be the front-runner over Kyle Trask.
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