The jury might still be out, but Sam Howell took another step toward proving he is the Washington Commanders franchise quarterback.
For the second week in a row, Howell threw for over 300 yards (29 of 45, 308 yards, one touchdown, and one interception) and showed that given time to throw, has the potential to unlock the offensive weapons this team has. All this as the Commanders (4-5) beat the New England Patriots 20-17 in Foxboro Sunday.
It was Washington’s first win over the Patriots since 2003 and first on the road since 1996.
The win keeps Washington just a game back of the final NFC wildcard spot, although the Commanders currently trail in all the tiebreakers.
The Washington offense converted 9 of 17 3rd downs against New England and Howell was only sacked once. It was the second strong performance from a newly shuffled offensive line in the past two games.
Playing without pash rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young, both of whom were traded on Tuesday, the defense did not record a sack, although rookie KJ Henry had one taken away on a very bad roughing the passer call by the officials.
The Commanders took a 3-0 lead on a Joey Sly 37-yard field goal with three minutes and fourteen seconds left in the first quarter. Washington stretched the lead to 10-0 early in the second as Brian Robinson capped an 11-play 80-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run.
Robinson also gave the Patriots the spark they needed to get back in the game, fumbling on the Commanders’ next possession and giving New England the ball at the Washington 25. Three plays later, quarterback Mac Jones found Hunter Henry in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 10-7.
On the Patriots’ next possession, Ramondre Stevenson broke off a 64-yard touchdown run to give New England a 14-10 lead. Stevenson appeared to get free when linebacker Jamin Davis was not able to cover his gap on a stunt.
The Commanders had a chance to cut the deficit to one or even take the lead at the end of the first half.
Howell moved the offense to the Patriots’ five-yard line, but on first and goal, Howell tried to force a pass to Jahon Dotson in the end zone that was intercepted by Kyle Duggar to preserve the 14-10 halftime lead.
New England kicked a field goal to take a 17-10 lead on its first possession of the second half but Howell responded with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Dotson to tie the game.
Sly’s second field goal of the game gave Washington a 20-17 lead. From there, the defense preserved the win, holding New England to just 327 total offensive yards. Q’uan Martin ended the Pats’ last-minute attempt to tie the game as he intercepted Jones on the Washington 33-yard line with less than a minute to play.
While the win temporarily revives Washington’s season, it also checks an important box for Howell. He won a game on the road against a good defense, a game that could have gone either way.
While he did miss a few big throws, he also demonstrated an ability to fit the ball into tight windows and extend plays with his running ability, once picking up a first down with a 23-yard scramble.
The Commanders travel to Seattle in Week 10. The Seahawks will be another defensive test for Howell, another chance to prove he is in fact, the quarterback of the future.