The Washington Commanders fell to 4-10 on the season after Sunday’s 28-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It was an eventful second half for Washington, which trailed 13-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Sam Howell led the Commanders on their first scoring drive, finding Curtis Samuel for a 19-yard touchdown with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter. However, after a couple of ineffective drives and his first turnover of the day, head coach Ron Rivera pulled Howell for veteran Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett threw two late touchdowns to make theh game interesting, but the result was never in doubt. The Rams would hold onto the win, but after the game, Rivera faced tough questions on Brissett/Howell, long snapper Camaron Cheeseman and more.
How did X — or Twitter — respond?
We go through some of the best responses from another Commanders’ loss.
Sam Howell
Howell Era was FUN for a SEC. 😔#HTTC pic.twitter.com/5Kbr4vJOc2
— Rio Robinson (@Rio_Robinson91) December 17, 2023
Rivera kept Howell in so many bad losses saying young players need to work through it. And yet, Howell is pulled with nine minutes left. Now, Howell deserves to be pulled. He has nothing left. But, hypocrisy always bothers me.
— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) December 17, 2023
Howell Stans can lie to themselves all they want, but Sam hasn't even played this well like Jacoby did in garbage time.
No one can honestly say he's 100% the guy. He has not only hit a ceiling but he's regressed.
Everything should be on the table come the draft. 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/8bj4VJTH5t
— WDH (@wdhart3) December 18, 2023
I REALLY feel for Sam Howell pic.twitter.com/wZyAcZxQtZ
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 17, 2023
Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby Brissett walks onto the field and throws two touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/4swL4H5TMv
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) December 17, 2023
This performance by Brissett is going to piss off everyone in the world except Bieniemy, and Brissett’s mom.
— Burgundy Blog (@BurgundyBlog) December 17, 2023
Jacoby Brissett pic.twitter.com/NIP7oCdmim
— Not Robert Griffin (@Pseudo_RGIII) December 17, 2023
Brissett is a 7-year veteran who has played in multiple offenses. I expect him to come into a game like this and put up numbers.
— T M (@reshmanuel) December 17, 2023
Ron Rivera
Competent organizations not going through an ownership change would have let Rivera go before this season. Competent Front Offices and Coaching staffs would have let Cheeseman go during Training Camp https://t.co/kfsWp0Z5mT
— Tailgate Ted (@TailgateTed) December 18, 2023
Ground ball snap. Tress Way got hurt in the aftermath. Hope he's okay.
That's on Rivera. He has allowed these horrendous snaps to continue all season with the urgency to fix the problem of a snail.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 17, 2023
CHEESEMAN NEEDS TO BE CUT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!
Another one of Rivera’s GENIUS draft picks😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/YwRre0HhKg
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 17, 2023
Forget his awful record in four years as a coach. His bad track record as a GM, but trading up to draft Cheeseman and then doubling down on not replacing him are both fireable offenses. #HTTC
— Commanders Wire (@Washington_Wire) December 18, 2023
Camaron Cheeseman
Assessment: He's horrible.
Solution: Release him.
Solution #2: Sign new long snapper.
Make me the head coach for these last four games. I can do that from my office here in southwest Tennessee. https://t.co/gJs68HiOzg
— Ken Johannesen (@BurgundyBurner) December 18, 2023
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOOOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOL CHEEEEESSEEEEEEEEMANNNNNNNN
— Commanders Wire (@Washington_Wire) December 18, 2023
Cheeseman may go down as the WORST draft pick in the Ron Rivera era – and that is saying a LOT!!! pic.twitter.com/P31rve9Etl
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) December 18, 2023
(Cheeseman snaps)
The Ball: pic.twitter.com/IT2ydHNDrP
— Not Robert Griffin (@Pseudo_RGIII) December 18, 2023
That weird sequence before Washington's final score
Rivera & this staff by extension are squarely in group 2. 1st & Goal at the 1 w/4:47 left to go, down 2 scores. Offense uses the ENTIRE PLAY CLOCK on 3 straight plays, OPI on Thomas, then full play clock AGAIN after a completion in bounds. 2:16 go off the clock. /2
— Danny Rouhier (@funnydanny) December 18, 2023
This isn't just about Sam and Jacoby. This is about Bieniemy and his future too.
— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) December 17, 2023
Eric Bieniemy in short yardage situations pic.twitter.com/6hGY9hVmra
— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) December 18, 2023
The Commanders wasted 10 plays, 3 mins and the 2 minute warning after having 1st and goal frm the 1 with 4:47 on the clock. Rivera's clock management is atrociuous. It felt like Doug Pederson in 2020 benching Hurts vs Washington trying to lose except Ron was trying to win! https://t.co/pqRTcEA34n
— Tailgate Ted (@TailgateTed) December 18, 2023
The Commanders with great ball control – worked a lot of clock – with first and goal at 1. #HTTC
— Alex Parker (@ParkerSports) December 18, 2023