Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera’s decision to roll with Sam Howell at quarterback is slowly starting to pay off.
Howell, the former UNC gunslinger who holds 27 school records, is now 3-0 as an NFL starter. His most recent victory came on Sunday, Sept. 17, as Howell helped lead the Commanders back from an 18-point, first half deficit to top the Denver Broncos, 35-33 and move to 2-0.
Washington was impressive on the ground – running back Brian Robinson Jr. racked up 87 yards and two touchdowns, including the fourth-quarter score that gave his team the lead for good.
Yet it was Howell, the second-year quarterback out of UNC, who helped orchestrate the comeback and showed he might actually be the Commanders’ franchise quarterback.
Howell ended his afternoon with an NFL career-high 299 passing yards and two touchdowns. His first scoring toss came to safety blanket Logan Thomas, the quarterback-turned tight end out of Virginia Tech, to start the comeback in the second quarter.
Howell’s second touchdown pass came just three minutes into the second half, putting the Commanders within one on a beautiful, 30-yard strike to deep threat Terry McLaurin. Washington then tied the game at 21 on a Joey Slye extra point.
.@TheTerry_25 is a bad man 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PG4MVCODcT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 18, 2023
What made the victory all that more impressive was the fact Howell outdueled Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, the 9-time Pro Bowler who won Super Bowl XLVIII against, coincidentally, the Broncos.
Wilson’s 308-yard, 3-touchdown outing was his best game in a long time – a statline that many teams would win behind.
Yesterday showcased two things – no deficit is too large to overcome, as long as the comeback starts early enough, plus the new wave of quarterbacks is here.
Sam Howell just happens to be leading that new wave early this year.
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