What were some major observations from Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell's performance at the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12?
After one of his worst performances since becoming Washington Commanders quarterback, Sam Howell got an almost immediate chance to put things right. And with the entire NFL audience watching, no less.
Howell and the Commanders made their daunting Thanksgiving Day trip to the Dallas Cowboys as heavy underdogs. That hasn't mattered to the former fifth-round selection in the past - the bigger the occasion, the better he seems to perform.
All eyes were on Howell at AT&T Stadium as pressure continues to mount on head coach Ron Rivera. As it turned out, the North Carolina product couldn't mastermind an upset as the Commanders fell to 4-8 on the season - a scenario most anticipated beforehand.
With this in mind, here are four major observations from Howell's performance at the Cowboys in Week 12.
Sam Howell's mobility
Sam Howell came under pressure early and often as expected. Thankfully for the player and the Washington Commanders, the signal-caller manipulated the pocket well, putting his immobility to good use in pursuit of keeping plays alive.
This is an underrated asset of Howell's game and a tool he should arguably put to greater use. There were even times when Eric Bieniemy called plays that got his quarterback rolling out in motion immediately after the snap - something that came with success and kept the formidable Cowboys defense on their toes.
Howell's improved maneuvering in the pocket and outside the numbers represent his increasing comfort and trust in himself. Long may it continue.
Sam Howell's impressive first half
All eyes were on Sam Howell to see if the quarterback could respond accordingly - as all great players at the position manage to do - in the face of adversity coming off such a disappointing performance. There was a renewed sense of purpose in his body language, which resulted in a hugely impressive first half.
Howell led the Washington Commanders on a number of decent drives that should have resulted in more points. Sacks and miscommunications came at critical times, which set the offense back considerably as they went into the interval behind 20-10.
As for Howell, he was poised in the pocket, made the correct reads more often than not, and protected the football with greater efficiency than he managed to accomplish against the New York Giants. The ex-Tar Heel also scored a rushing touchdown to further enhance his influence.
The statistics back up Howell's strong showing. It's just a shame the signal-caller cannot do it alone.
- 69.56 percent completion
- 170 passing yards
- 0 passing touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 2 sacks against
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 90.9 passer rating (ESPN)
It was a solid platform from which to build. But once again, Howell and the offense were being let down by another complete failure on the defensive side of the football.
Sam Howell's maturity
This was a different Sam Howell from the carefree gunslinger we're used to seeing. There was a more methodical approach schematically in pursuit of gaining yards, with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy opting to get the football out quickly and into the hands of his dynamic playmakers.
It was the correct approach considering how opportunistic the Dallas Cowboys defense has become even without stud cornerback Trevon Diggs. There were a few occasions when Howell aired it out downfield - especially chasing the game late on - but this conservative distribution is a sign of confidence that the signal-caller can follow a clear script and take what the defense gives him rather than force the issue constantly.
The growing maturity Howell continues to display under center couldn't be more encouraging. Tavita Pritchard - the progressive Washington Commanders' quarterbacks coach - also deserves a tremendous amount of credit for enhancing the player's footwork, ability to go through progressions quicker behind a suspect offensive line, and accepting that living to fight another day isn't the end of the world.
What makes Howell's growth in these areas even more encouraging is the fact he's got just 12 NFL starts under his belt so far. The best is yet to come, it's whether Josh Harris' ownership group holds the same belief that's the big question nobody knows the answer to right now.
Commanders must build around Sam Howell
Sam Howell is doing a good job in difficult circumstances. There were a few throws he'd like to have back from their loss at the Dallas Cowboys, but it was a solid outing overall despite getting almost no help from elsewhere.
It doesn't matter who the head coach or general manager in 2024 might be, the message should be clear. That's to build around Howell, give him everything he could possibly need to thrive, and allow a proper evaluation of his long-term prospects during next year's campaign.
This all starts up front on both sides of the football. Finding a complete tight end would also help - as would another pass-catcher in the wide receiver room to go alongside Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson if Curtis Samuel departs in free agency.
Then, and only then, can Howell reach his potential. One could argue he's performing well above expectations in the situation he's in, but nothing can be said with any guarantee about his future with so many changes on the immediate horizon.
Once again, Howell was one of the very few Washington Commanders players to emerge with any semblance of credit. Although the record-breaking pick-six conceded to cornerback DaRon Bland was a bleak moment and one that highlights the hard work ahead where the second-year-pro is concerned.
Howell's shown enough with a suspect supporting cast. The Commanders must now do right by him this offseason no matter who's calling the shots.