The last time the Washington Commanders were in Dallas, the pregame spectacle almost overshadowed the game itself.
No, it wasn’t Dolly Parton, who will be performing at halftime of Thursday’s game between the teams. It was former Washington owner Dan Snyder, in a blue blazer, shaking hands with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Snyder was nearing the end of his time as the team’s owner and knew Jones was one of the few in the NFL who had the clout to protect him from the inevitable conclusion — that he would have to sell the Commanders franchise.
A month later, Snyder declared he was exploring a sale of the franchise.
Fast-forward to this year’s game, and the Commanders’ on-field product does not seem to have improved much. The team is 4-7, and is closer to the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft than it is to making the playoffs as a wild-card team.
Everything else, though, seems a little brighter. Sellout crowds have returned to FedEx Field, and players have lauded new owner Josh Harris and his commitment to modernizing the franchise and its facilities.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they’re doing a doggone good job, which I’m very thankful for,” tight end Logan Thomas said. “What they’ve done for us here in this facility and on a travel basis, a day-to-day basis, it’s very nice.”
Harris purchased the team on the eve of training camp, too late to make any major changes on the football side of the operation. This offseason will be his first opportunity to get to work, which makes the final weeks of the season a crucial evaluation period for the team’s players and some personnel.
Quarterback Sam Howell and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy sit atop that list.
Howell seems to be well positioned to return for a second season as the starter and get a second crack at the Cowboys, whom he memorably defeated in the final game last year to earn his offseason spot as QB1. He said that won’t be on his mind going into this week, though.
“For me, I just try to take it one week at a time and just keep trying to find ways to get better,” he said. “I think when you spend too much time looking at how I’ve gotten better, it takes time away from how you could be getting even better, you know? So, I kind of spend my time and attention finding more ways to get better and finding more ways to help this football team.”
Knowing the Commanders will hold a high draft pick, getting Howell to a place where he can hold down the position as a full-time starter frees Washington up to use that selection on some help — a tight end, offensive lineman or pass rusher, to name a few areas of need.
Keeping him healthy through the season will be of equal concern. Howell has been sacked 51 times and is chasing the NFL record for most times sacked in a season.
It wasn’t a sack, though, but a scramble that nearly did him in against the Giants on Sunday. He hit his shoulder hard as he dove to score a rushing touchdown, and was evaluated by team doctors before being cleared to return.
With Dallas stout on the pass rush, Howell’s health will be a major storyline Thursday.
If he can stay upright, he’s been able to make big plays with his arm and has been able to spread the love among the team’s receivers.
For Terry McLaurin, the Thanksgiving stage is a chance to continue to make a name for himself, something he did two years ago in Dallas.
“It’s a chance for you to put your best foot forward, and show what kind of player and kind of team you are,” he said. “Because all the eyes are watching.”
The Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game is annually one of the most-watched games of the year by television viewers, and this year is likely to be no different.
For Washington, that means showcasing a new outlook in the team’s first major national game since the ownership change.
Asked to reflect on what the last year has brought, Rivera said he’s thought about it but wants to keep the focus on making progress.
“The biggest thing, the most important thing, really is just putting this team in a good spot and working to continue to grow and develop,” he said.
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