Ron Rivera, Commanders embraced losing, and this is the result

The Commanders are already eliminated from the playoffs. Starting Brissett, who is a known commodity as a veteran backup, has zero upside. Despite Howell's struggles in recent weeks, continuing to let him learn would at least give him the chance headed into the offseason to leave a positive impression on what's likely to be a new front office and coaching staff in 2024.

Even Brissett himself seems to be aware of his and Howell's intended roles. He knows he's not a long-term solution as a starting QB. Howell, who at one point this season led the entire NFL in passing yards, was viewed that way as recently as a month ago.

Now he's being benched while Washington has nothing to play for, in the interest of having a better chance to win in the immediate moment. That's rich, considering the entire reason the Commanders and Howell are in this situation is that the team -- and specifically HC Ron Rivera -- embraced a losing culture.

Rivera, whose strength throughout his first three years in D.C. was in building a strong locker room culture that maximized its results on the field, has phoned it in amidst the rumors of his impending dismissal -- and it shows. Montez Sweat, who Washington willingly traded away at the deadline, all but confirmed that the Commanders had given up on the season many weeks ago.

The losing was bound to take a toll on Howell, and Rivera has done nothing to instill confidence in his young signal-caller. No effort to make the team better around him. No positive reassurance during his media pressers, the way other coaches such as Robert Saleh have given amidst their QBs' struggles. Now, straight-up kicking him to the curb in a game in which he'd have nothing to lose.

It's total and complete organizational malpractice. Washington will now enter the 2024 season being forced to hit the reset button on the entire roster, instead of having pieces who could have been promising building blocks for a new regime.

There's no telling how hard it will be for whoever the Commanders' coach and QB are next year to make any progress while starting virtually from scratch. And in today's age of instant gratification, patience will quickly wear thin with them, too.

This is how bad teams stay bad. It's been a constant cycle in Washington for far too long, and this time it was all so avoidable.