4 major observations from Sam Howell's performance vs. the Eagles in Week 8

Sam Howell faltered late

Just when it looked like Sam Howell might be putting together an almost flawless game, it all came crashing back down to earth at the worst possible time. The signal-caller faltered down the stretch versus a stout Philadelphia Eagles defense - not even a sensational late touchdown throw to Jamison Crowder could change that.

When one looks at Howell's full body of work against the Philadelphia Eagles, it was extremely encouraging. That doesn't detract from how critical the fourth-quarter interception became to the overall outcome.

This is what separates the good quarterback from the great - coming through in the clutch and protecting the football. Howell can look back on his performance with pride, but his mindset probably dictates he'll be kicking himself for giving up such a costly turnover.

Howell eventually finished with 397 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a 114.0 passer rating. Unfortunately, there was an interception that gave complete momentum to the Eagles and moved them to 7-1 in the process.

This will no doubt hurt Howell and it does nothing to lessen the pressure on Ron Rivera's shoulders. But getting almost 400 passing yards against such a prolific defense is another feather in his cap en route to becoming Washington's long-term option under center.

The future looks bright for Howell if he continues this trajectory. What comes next for the Commanders at 3-5 with the trade deadline rapidly approaching is a different question.