Latest news provides surprise twist for Cowboys-Commanders game
The Dallas Cowboys will face the Washington Commanders in their regular season finale on Sunday. But which quarterback (or quarterbacks) they'll be facing is one of the most intriguing storylines of the week. It seems like we have an answer already. Unsurprisingly, Carson Wentz is expected to ride the bench following an ugly three-interception performance […]
The Dallas Cowboys will face the Washington Commanders in their regular season finale on Sunday. But which quarterback (or quarterbacks) they'll be facing is one of the most intriguing storylines of the week.
It seems like we have an answer already.
Unsurprisingly, Carson Wentz is expected to ride the bench following an ugly three-interception performance last week against the Cleveland Browns.
That leaves the Cowboys defense expecting to see the debut of rookie quarterback Sam Howell for the Commanders.
According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the former North Carolina Tarheel is going to play on Sunday even if it remains unclear if he will start.
In practice, Howell is getting first-team reps. However, Taylor Heinicke could also see playing time.
The QB change would make sense for the Commanders as they're now eliminated from playoff contention and could test their rookie against the Cowboys defense.
Howell was selected by Washington in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Here's The Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler's summary on Howell from his 2022 Draft Guide:
"Overall, Howell needs to clean up his footwork and develop as a pocket passer, but he has NFL-quality arm strength, athleticism, and work ethic and operates with a slow heartbeat. He projects as a low-end NFL starter, flashing similarities to Baker Mayfield."
The news could also serve as a blessing in disguise for the Cowboys as it opens the door for a potentially easier matchup that allows the team to rest key starters if the game script goes their way early in the game.
The Cowboys have "a lot to play for" as Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. A win paired with a Philadelphia Eagles' loss would make them the NFC East champions for consecutive seasons.
But they should also be aware of the fact that an Eagles' loss seems unlikely. Especially because the New York Giants could treat Week 18 like a preseason game as they have nothing to play for seeding-wise.
The Cowboys and Commanders will play at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday, the same as Giants-Eagles and Cardinals-49ers. All three games have NFC playoff implications and will be played at the same time to keep games as competitive as possible.
Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
