Heinicke could lead the Commanders to a playoff run

The Commanders are having fun with a late-season momentum enhance underneath Taylor Heinicke, who’s received 4 of his final 5 video games as beginning quarterback. 

Driving the information: After Sunday’s win over the Texans, head coach Ron Rivera introduced a task reversal: Heinicke will stay the group’s starter with Carson Wentz serving as backup. 

State of play: The underdog QB’s current wins are an surprising however welcome flip of occasions for a group that began the season 1-4 and has a few 50% shot on the playoffs, in keeping with 538’s prediction.

• The 29-year-old Previous Dominion College alum hasn’t gotten these wins fully on his personal although. The Commanders’ line of defense has been a powerhouse, racking up a powerful 5 sacks on Sunday.​​

Why it issues: Bringing focus again to the sphere is a wanted shift after plenty of consideration has been on proprietor Dan Snyder and his newest spherical of scandals.

Sure, however: The playoffs are nonetheless a protracted shot. The NFC East is a aggressive convention and the last-ranked Commanders nonetheless have two extra losses than the third-ranked Giants.

What’s subsequent: For Heinicke’s success to finish in a playoff run, the Commanders must maintain profitable. They’re favored to beat the Falcons on Sunday. 

After that, they’ll have two robust back-to-back video games in opposition to the Giants — a group that began the season robust however has not too long ago struggled with accidents and a shock loss to the Lions.

• It’ll additionally assist if the Eagles and Cowboys — at the moment ranked first and second within the convention — begin shedding. 
• At the moment, the Eagles have one loss on their file, courtesy of the Commanders current Monday Evening Soccer win.

Zoom out: The Commanders may have gotten a playoff spot if the Cardinals had overwhelmed the 49ers final night time, however no such luck. Washington should discover one other approach in.

The underside line: Heinicke is making the Commanders enjoyable to observe once more, and it doesn’t matter what drama surrounds the group proprietor or its future stadium location, that’s a win for D.C.