The Washington Commanders came into Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns knowing that if they won, the Seattle Seahawks lost to the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions lost to the Chicago Bears, and the Green Bay Packers lost to or tied with the Minnesota Vikings, they’d be in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The team had rebounded from a 1-4 start to a 7-7-1 mark, and though they’d lost their last two games, it was an interesting decision for head coach Ron Rivera to announce that Carson Wentz would replace Taylor Heinicke in this game.
Wentz played in relief of Heinicke in last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers’ top defense and did pretty well, but given the gravity of this game, and given Wentz’s history as a double agent making throws for both teams in a game… well, let’s just say that people were a bit confused.
People are more confused now after a first quarter in which Wentz completed two passes to his own receivers… and two to the Browns.
Carson Wentz:
🔴 Completions – 2
🟡 Interceptions – 2And the Heinicke chants rain down. #HTTC
pic.twitter.com/dEy3L07B73— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) January 1, 2023
The result? Commanders fans would like their Heinicke back, please.
Washington fans chanting "HEIN-I-CKE" at FedEx Field.
QB Carson Wentz started today and has thrown 2 interceptions in the first half.
(via @NickiJhabvala) pic.twitter.com/4GOVA6ialF
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 1, 2023
As long as the Commanders want Wentz in that (or any) game, they’ll have to balance his capacity for explosive plays and plays in which things just explode. Right now, the balance is severely off.
