Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines ahead of their game against the New York Giants this afternoon?
Another game day is upon us. For the Washington Commanders, their contest against the New York Giants represents a winnable fixture in front of a sold-out audience once again at FedEx Field, but complacency must not become an issue in pursuit of Ron Rivera's first divisional triumph of the campaign.
Before attention turns to matters on the field, the stories causing conversation include Sam Howell heading in the right direction, examining why Bill Belichick might be of interest to Josh Harris, practice squad elevations, and everything you need to know heading into Week 11.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commanders elevate two from the practice squad
With Antonio Gibson and James Smith-Williams missing this afternoon's game versus the New York Giants, it came as no surprise to see the Washington Commanders elevate running back Derrick Gore and defensive end Joshua Pryor from their practice squad. This solidifies depth in both positions, although whether either will see any meaningful time on the field remains to be seen.
Gore could get some looks given his previous connection to Eric Bieniemy from their time together on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Commanders were intrigued by what they saw from Pryor during the summer, so he could push his way into consideration given the team's lack of pass-rushing prowess without Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
Aside from the absences of Gibson and Smith-Williams, the Commanders have a relatively clean bill of health. All systems go.
Commanders vs. NY Giants odds and how to watch
According to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the Washington Commanders are 9.5-point favorites against the New York Giants in Week 11. This comes as no shock considering the opposition has an unproven quarterback under center in undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito.
- Washington -9.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Giants +9.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
Anyone wishing to wager the Commanders' money line will need deep pockets for a decent payout. They currently have odds of -460 (bet $460 to win $100) for a straight-up triumph, with the G-Men as the unsurprising underdog at +360 (bet $100 to win $360).
FanDuel Sportsbook has set the over/under at 37.5 points.
- Over 37.5 points: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Under 37.5 points: -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
How to watch:
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Washington's game versus the Giants is also available on FOX.
Sam Howell heading in the right direction
Sam Howell heads into Sunday's game riding on the crest of a wave. The quarterback looks like he could be the franchise presence under center the Washington Commanders have craved for some time - something that head coach Ron Rivera is hanging his hat on in pursuit of getting a reprieve from Josh Harris' ownership group in 2024.
When discussing Howell's growth, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy remains impressed based on comments via Sports Illustrated. The respected play-caller added that if the former fifth-round pick maintains his current mindset, big things could be in his future.
"Every day, I'm more impressed by the person, I'm impressed by the kid. My job is to make sure I'm living in this moment. I can't tell you what's going to take place down the line, but I do know this: the kid has the work ethic. He has the attitude and the mindset that's taken him in the right direction. He just needs to stay who he is, remain who he is, humble, a hardworking kid that doesn't take anything for granted, that understands that every little thing that he learns is by far the most important to help him to be the best player and person that he can be on the field and off the field. So I think if he's utilizing this same work ethic and his family values, he'll be all right when it's all said and done with."Eric Bieniemy via Sports Illustrated
The North Carolina product has a good chance to further cement his status as Washington's long-term quarterback against the New York Giants. Although Howell needs to be fully aware of what's transpiring pre-snap with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale likely to conjure up some exotic blitz packages as part of his ultra-aggressive approach.
Should the Commanders want Bill Belichick?
There seems to be some growing momentum behind the Washington Commanders potentially making Bill Belichick their next head coach. The legendary figure's glittering spell with the New England Patriots seems to have run its course, with many insiders tipping Josh Harris to make a power play in the hope of bringing him to the nation's capital.
This was a subject discussed by Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated recently. The writer stated that a trade would need to be worked out given Belichick has one year remaining on his deal, but the question of why the Commanders would want the figurehead after struggling considerably since Tom Brady was allowed to leave for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was also brought up.
"Enter another wave of gossip regarding Bill Belichick, who along with his legendary status, it should be noted, has pretty much done the same thing in the last four years that Washington has done: One playoff berth. The coach would obviously not want his new team stripped of draft picks in a trade, so … Belichick would prefer to get fired? It's been noted that Josh Harris attended Harvard Business School with Jonathan Kraft, Robert's son. So the friendship could help negotiations. And if it all came together, it would leave just one more obstacle …Given the fact that Bill Belichick presently oversees arguably the NFL's worst team and has a losing record in the post-Tom Brady era … are the Commanders really sure they want him?"Mike Fisher, Sports Illustrated
Although nothing can be ruled out at this stage, acquiring Belichick would be a bombshell of epic proportions. It could also be the big splash Harris and his team of wealthy investors are looking for as they look to get the Commanders back into contention.
Watch this space, I guess…