Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. Washington ended the season on a high note, defeating the Dallas Cowboys twenty six to six. Special teams set the tone, forcing a fumble on the opening drive at the game. This set up a Sam hollow touchdown to wide receiver Terry mclaure. The rookie qb through for over one hundred and sixty yards and tacked on a rushing touchdown in
his NFL debut. Our analysts London Fletcher, Logan, Paulson, and Santana Moss helps me recap the Commanders season finale, King ten times in Santana. I want to start with you for this one because you've played with umpteen million quarterbacks over your career, and it's always a little bit of a challenge for rookie to come out there, grasp this system,
get into chemistry and rhythm with their receivers. What did you make of Sam Howe's performance, Well, you know, one of the things that stood out, something that we talked about throughout the week about how that ball jumps off his fingers. Yeah, that stood out first, you know, from
the first pass. But more than that, you know, I want to see how he reacted to some of the things that didn't go as well, and he responded the way most veteran quarterback should for him to be a rookie being thrown in that moment, you know, for his first game, the last game of the season playing is one of the better defense in this league. And to have a couple of hiccups here and there, throw interception and did come back in and say, so what make a play after that? That's what stood out to me
the most. Yeah, I mean, I think I thought it was really dynamic from a passing standpoint. I think the composure was outstanding. I think him as a runner was something that I wasn't expecting kind of to add that value that third down. Converting those third downs with his feet was pretty fantastic. So great to see the young guy come out there with that kind of composure to make those plays. And you know, was it a perfect sheet, No,
but nice, nice first start. You know, this is the staff that they want to be able to evaluate Sam to kind of decide what they need to do in the off season at the quarterback position. Did he do enough to be that QB one. I think he did enough to get in the conversation of being the QB one. You know, I think they're gonna bring somebody in maybe challenge Sam. But what I saw yesterday I saw a guy who was decisive getting the ball out on time,
and then when there wasn't anything there. He used his athleticism in his plays and you like the fact that he knew where to go with the football. And this is against the Dallas Cowboys defense that came in number two in the NFL and Saxon that defense is dynamic, but he was able to pick them apart and make plays using his legs. Yeah, he was saying that that is a strength of his. He wants to be able
to throw it. But of course if he gets that situation where there's a hole, he has the ability to go and it works to his advantage as we saw that. So so a lot of question marks at the position in the offseason, and we got to see Logan you mentioned this on the top of the show, a lot of younger guys also on defense really stepping up. Yeah. Absolutely,
I mean I was super impressed. Like, you know, a guy that I really wanted to see was Percy Butler and friend would come out there and make the plays that he did, be consistent and just playing with a confidence getting up after tacking Ezekiel and let him know, Fletch, let's say, man, I did that, I got you down the ground and kind of standing over top of him. I love to see that from the young guys. And then John Ridgeway had five tackles in their first sixteen plays.
There are some pieces here to build around, you know, And I think that gets me super fired up in a game like this. Yeah, you saw guys like Butler, you saw guys like Husting, you know. One of the things we talked about, Husting a guy, you know, a linebacker who's smaller than the average linebacker but flying around. They can play some of the things you see in this league today, playing a hybrid style, you know kind
of play. So it was great to see them young guys go out there and be dominant, you know, more than just going out here saying we're going to play and see what these guys like. They was definitely dominant.
Played that viper position coming out of college, which was kind of all over the place, but we haven't really seen him being able to contribute on defense, and it was good to know because this coaching staff really wants to build around the youth of this team as well, so that there's some great things coming in the offseason to build a punt And it's not just offense, it's not just defense. London special teams had their way. Special
teams they got it started. You know, you think about me Loo Eifler making that tackle on the on the Bible punt and then trust Way with the voodoo punt, forcing the muff punt, and those are that right there doesn't go down as a takeaway, but essentially less a takeaway. So I look at the special teams just presenting or contributing two takeaways in that ball game. Yeah, absolutely, I
think like that is a huge feature. You know, when we're evaluating Sam Hell, that's that's the thing it has to be considered, right, is this The game flow was drastically different than anyone expected, and especial teams are a big contributing factor to that. Yeah, that's one of the things these guys out to do. You know, they had
their little game. You know, we all wish we was a part of, but it's great to see those guys in the season the same way that they talked about starting the season this year, and again we said all week long, like what do they have to play for? That was the question these guys were being asked because they were officially eliminated going into this game, and it was Dallas that had a lot to play for, trying to get that first seed and win the division. Of course,
it didn't go to their plans. They did not come out ready Washington. For all your news and analysis, be sure to tune into Commands under Wig nights at five and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on YouTube and Commanders dot Com.