Week 9: Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

photo courtesy washington commanders

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after leading the visiting Commanders to a 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots this past Sunday.

Howell, in his first season as a starter, completed 29 of 45 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown, a well-thrown 33-yard pass to Jahan Dotson on the Commanders’ first possession of the second half, tying the game 17-17.

It was Howell’s third 300-yard game this season, but the first that resulted in a victory.

“I don’t play this game for numbers or stats or anything like that – I play to win,” Howell said during a postgame interview. “That’s the mindset of our entire team. No matter how many yards I throw for or how many touchdowns, it’s all about at the end of the day did we find a way to win. I thought offensively we did some good things.”

Howell was especially efficient on third down, helping the Commanders convert 9 of 17 third-down opportunities. That included a 24-yard scramble on a third-and-23 play late in the first half, which led to perhaps the one play Howell would like to have over. His biggest mistake of the game came when he was intercepted in the end zone just before halftime.

“With the exception of the interception in the first half, he played the type of game we think he is capable of,” Washington Coach Ron Rivera said. “He made some smart decisions. … We’re still growing and developing with the guy, but he did a good job and led us to the victory.”

Howell was Washington’s fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, following a standout career at the University of North Carolina where he set several school passing and also was named the most valuable player of the 2019 Military Bowl. Howell played only in the Commanders’ final game of the 2022 season, but entered this season atop the depth chart and has thrown for 2,471 yards and 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions in nine games.