This season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Washington Commanders and their fans. Currently they have a 4-9 record and are last place in the NFC East with a very small chance of making it to the playoffs. The Commanders have shown that they can compete with some teams in the NFL and at other times they’ve showed how inconsistent they can be. We have seen some progression from the team and some specific players but it has been a disappointing season for the franchise overall. As the season winds down questions arise about whether the team will still have the same coaches and players next season.

Bright Spot

While this season has been mostly disappointing for the team there have been some bright spots or signs of potential within the team with one of them being the quarterback position. At the start of the season it was announced that Sam Howell would be the team’s starting quarterback and that the team would give him a chance to prove himself. At this point of the season it seems as though we have had a substantial sample size of what Howell brings to the table as an NFL quarterback. It seems as though Howell can be a good player in the NFL and has shown flashes of greatness however there have been a few hiccups along the way. On the season Howell has thrown for 3,466 passing yards while also throwing 18 touchdown passes and running for five touchdowns. Additionally, he has led his team to two game-winning drives.

While he has had some highs on the season he has also had some lows as he has thrown 14 interceptions and fumbled the football four times. One aspect of the team that hasn’t helped him is the play of his offensive line as Howell has been sacked a total of 58 times so far through 14 games this season. If there is anything to take away from his performance this season it's that he should be given another opportunity to be this team’s starting quarterback come next season, regardless of whoever else is in that quarterback room. Building around Howell could prove to be beneficial for this team as they could continue to develop the young quarterback while also giving him some protection along the offensive line. These last four games are important ones for Howell to certify his starting spot on the team next season.

End of Rivera’s Run?

Ron Rivera’s fourth season as the head coach of the Washington Commanders has not been as successful as he would have hoped as they find themselves in last place within their division. During his time with the Commanders he has led his team to one playoff appearance and a 26-36-1 record. One note to add when discussing Rivera’s tenure with the Commanders is that they haven’t had a winning season with him as the head coach. As a result of the team’s struggles this season many people are speculating that this could possibly be his last season in Washington. With another losing season on the horizon it is seemingly inevitable that the head coach is let go after the season. If that were to take place then the franchise would begin their head coaching search with presumably a plethora of options at their disposal. With many other coaches either being fired during this season or on the hot seat it seems the Commanders should have options to choose from to find the perfect coach that fits what the team wants to do moving forward. However, one option that could be more realistic than most would think is making offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy the head coach. Seeing as he has already familiarized himself with the team, players, and organization he could potentially be their first option when searching for a new head coach.

With new ownership it seems like this Commanders team is poised for better days and that could start with a successful off-season full of beneficial changes.