Which Washington Commanders' news stories are hitting the headlines following their dramatic comeback victory at the Denver Broncos?
Well, who would have thought it?
Just when it looked like the Washington Commanders were down and out, a stunning fightback snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as Ron Rivera's men beat the Denver Broncos and moved themselves to 2-0 for the campaign so far.
Of course, the headlines were plentiful in the game's immediate aftermath. Among the stories generating column inches include Micah Parsons issuing a warning to the Commanders, Sam Howell's assessment, Rivera's delight, and Chase Young setting his own tone after a fantastic return.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Micah Parsons issues warning to Commanders
Starting the campaign 2-0 was better than most envisaged for the Washington Commanders before competitive action began. There is a long way to go, obviously, but things seem different from the mundane football fans were forced to sit through under Dan Snyder's ownership.
Their success is not going unnoticed around the league or from Washington's NFC East rivals. When wide receiver Jahan Dotson posted a celebratory tweet after getting off the field, his former Penn State teammate and Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons issued a stark warning to the Commanders.
Im coming… https://t.co/hv8srdyqBc
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) September 18, 2023
Dallas looks like a formidable outfit after winning their first two games. The Commanders don't see the Cowboys until Thanksgiving, so just where each team will be by that point is anyone's guess.
Still, it's nice that people seem to be taking the Commanders seriously at long last.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera's milestone
Ron Rivera has seen a lot throughout his football journey. But not many of his 100 wins as head coach would have been nearly as dramatic.
The Washington Commanders got off to a disastrous start at the Denver Broncos. They were in a deep hole early, but a late first-half rally kept them in the contest, and the adjustments made afterward enabled them to gain a priceless win against all odds.
Rivera was given the game ball to mark his century by majority owner Josh Harris, which was fitting. When discussing the achievement post-game, the respected figure was keen to keep the focus on his team based on comments via The Washington Times.
"It’s really cool. It really is. I’m really fortunate to have so many players and coaches that helped me get to where I am today. This is something that’s really about the team effort, and I’m very fortunate to have a lot of people to get me where I am today."Ron Rivera via Washington Times
There's been a noticeable shift in Rivera's demeanor since Harris and his wealthy team of investors bought the Commanders from Dan Snyder for $6.05 billion. That's rubbing off on his players based on their first two games of the season - something that could see this once-proud franchise become one of the league's surprise packages if everything continues in a similar fashion.
Commanders DE Chase Young's mentality
There was an enormous sense of anticipation to see Chase Young back on the gridiron after the defensive end cleared all necessary medical criteria to participate. It's been a frustrating few weeks following a severe stinger suffered in the preseason, but he managed to harness this energy into something positive in Week 2.
Young didn't start the game, but he made the most of reps when they arrived. The former No. 2 overall selection looked explosive and a real force coming off the opposite end to Montez Sweat, with the pair gaining 1.5 sacks apiece en route to a sensational comeback triumph for the Washington Commanders.
When speaking about his performance, Young stated via the team's website that he felt blessed. The Ohio State product is also convinced Washington's formidable defense will only get better as the campaign progresses.
"Feeling blessed, it's been a long time coming for me, Just a blessing to be running on the field and being around the guys. That was the most exciting thing for me. They hit us early with a lot of trick plays, but in the second half they ran out of those. In practice we've been talking about chopping the wood and keep going, the offense put on a helluva show, so we got it as a team."Chase Young via Commanders.com
Hopefully, this can be the start of brighter things in Young's future, If the edge presence can put a prolonged run of games together and remain consistent in terms of productivity, then big things could be in the player's future and the Commanders would be wise to pay up accordingly.
Commanders QB Sam Howell putting the team first
One of the wildest finishes to any game in recent Washington Commanders memory ended with a win. That's the main thing, with quarterback Sam Howell once again flourishing in his quest to become the team's long-term option under center.
It was an indifferent start for Howell, but he grew in stature with every down. Some of the throws were nothing short of remarkable and when the Commanders needed him most, the former fifth-round pick delivered.
Howell finished the game with a 69.23 percent completion rate for 299 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, a 64.1 QBR, and a passer rating of 108.8. He was sacked four times.
When speaking about his performance, Howell was eager to keep it focused firmly on the team based on his comments via John Keim of ESPN. This is in keeping with the North Carolina product's mindset since getting the keys to the Commanders' kingdom.
"This is a resilient team. The thing I’m proud of is we had each other’s back on both sides of the ball."Sam Howell via ESPN
There is growing confidence that the Commanders have found a real gem in Howell. No moment is too big for the signal-caller and if he can lead Washington to victory over the Buffalo Bills next weekend, there's just no telling what this team might be able to accomplish under his leadership.