Tag: Dyami Brown

Remember how the Commanders knew they would beat the Giants?

Will the Commanders take care of business this time around?

“Of course, the Commanders will beat the Giants.”

Does that sound familiar?

It should, because less than a month ago, that is what nearly every Commanders fan and writer was thinking when Washington traveled to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants on Oct. 22.

Everyone supposedly knew the Commanders had turned around their season the previous week with a 24-16 road win in Atlanta. They had been awakened two weeks prior when they fell behind 27-3 to the Bears in the first half before losing 40-20. Virtually the entire NFL world believed the Commanders would beat New York, and thus they were made a three-point road favorite.

But when the game began, it was the Giants who were a step quicker and more intense. The Commanders were so bad they trailed 14-0 at the half.

It was actually embarrassing.

How excruciatingly bad was the Commanders offense?

Well, their first nine drives resulted in four punts, a Sam Howell interception (resulting in a Giants touchdown), and then four more punts.

Finally, Dyami Brown recovered a muffed punt at the Giants’ 21, leading to the Commanders narrowing their deficit to 14-7.

But they never scored again. The Giants sacked Howell six times in the game for minus-52 yards. It was so frustrating to watch.

Adding to the six sacks, Washington also committed 10 penalties. That is 16 snaps resulting in minus yardage.

No wonder Jonathan Allen was so upset.

This time around, the Commanders must win. And they can’t get a backdoor win for it be considered a success, either. The Giants stink, and the Commanders have not been good enough that they can look ahead to their short-week Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas on national TV.

We’ve all seen those silly pregame speeches by the players, yelling and screaming at their teammates.

Wasn’t the time to have gotten serious and prepare thoroughly for this game this week at the Ashburn facility?

This team needs to start taking care of business.

Commanders PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Seahawks in Week 10

Which Commanders performed the best in Sunday’s crushing loss? Which ones struggled? The grades are in.

The Washington Commanders lost another heartbreaker on Sunday, falling 29-26 to the Seattle Seahawks on a 43-yard field goal as time expired.

Washington quarterback Sam Howell was excellent again, completing 29 of 44 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns. Unfortunately for Washington, its offense struggled in the second and third quarters before finishing strong. By that time, the Commanders defense, which was playing a bend-but-don’t-break style through the game, broke in the fourth quarter.

Which Commanders, outside of Howell, stood out vs. the Seahawks? Which players had a bad day?

The grades are in, per Pro Football Focus. Let’s examine the best and worst performers from Week 10.

Sam Howell leads entire NFL in these two categories

Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell is playing a lot like his old UNC self. He’s one of the best NFL quarterbacks so far in 2023.

Move over, Tua Tagovailoa – there’s a new NFL leader in passing yards.

Is it Patrick Mahomes? No. Josh Allen? No. Dak Prescott, who’s been on a tear recently? Also no.

The current NFL passing yardage leader is none other than former UNC standout Sam Howell, a young man in his first full year as the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback.

When Washington decided to move on from former second overall pick Carson Wentz in the offseason, it was left with two choices at quarterback – proven veteran Jacoby Brissett, or the second-year gunslinger who holds 27 school records at Carolina.

The Commanders chose Howell, which made many fans questions head coach Ron Rivera’s decision at first, but also proved to pay off in the long run.

Howell is currently leading the NFL with 2,783 passing yards and 264 completions. He’s currently 157 yards ahead of MVP contender C.J. Stroud, plus 31 completions ahead of Joe Cool (Burrow).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzkgXP9A-aa/

Just yesterday in a near-upset of the Seattle Seahawks, Howell threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, including one to former UNC teammate Dyami Brown that set up the game-tying, fourth-quarter extra point.

With such strong quarterback play, it’s surprising Washington isn’t holding onto a playoff spot right now. The Commanders are two whole games behind the red-hot Minnesota Vikings, who are being led by another young QB in former Tennessee standout Josh Dobbs.

This is no longer the NFL with veteran, Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks.

It’s the NFL with a new patch of stars like Howell.

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Commanders can’t finish; lose another close game

Another disappointing loss for the Commanders.

It was second-and-10 at the Washington 48-yard line, and Seattle quarterback Geno Smith hit wide receiver DK Metcalf for 27 yards, and Jason Myers’ 43-yard field goal was good as time expired.

The Washington Commanders thus lost another close and important game.

This loss was at Seattle 29-26.

What else is new?

Down 26-19, the Commanders drove 71 yards in ten plays. Following two incompletions, Washington faced a 3rd & 10 at the Seattle 35, when Sam Howell found Dyami Brown for a 35-yard touchdown, and Joey Slye tied the game at 26-26.

So I tweeted, “But there are 52 seconds remaining.”

Sure enough, the defense could not keep Seattle from scoring, the Seahawks winning the game and dropping the Commanders to 4-6 after ten games.

The Commanders’ defense had its struggles all day, surrendering 27 first downs, 489 total yards, and 369 passing yards, including the second consecutive week a running back scored from 64 yards!

The Commanders’ third-down defense was actually pretty good, holding Seattle to four of 14. But once again, this day came down to the team needing to make a play on the final possession, and they did not.

At the conclusion of the third quarter, the Commanders had attempted 31 passes and only nine running attempts. The Seahawks generating good pressure on Howell.

Suddenly, trailing 19-12, there were running plays for 15, 12, 5, and 2 yards. The Commanders drove 73 yards in 8 plays, with the drive being finalized when Howell found Antonio Gibson open for a 19-yard touchdown, tying the game at 19-19 with exactly eight minutes remaining.

But the Commanders, on the next Seattle possession, surrendered a 75-yard ten-play drive, putting Washington again behind 26-19.

The Commanders gave up 120 rushing yards on 26 Seattle attempts, while Geno Smith completed 31 passes for 369 yards.

Sam Howell completed 31 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked three times for -24 yards.

So, it is another loss, another last-minute disappointment and frustration.

WATCH: Commanders QB Sam Howell finds Dyami Brown for late TD vs. Seahawks

Unfortunately, Washington’s defense didn’t do its job.

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell had another “prove-it moment” in Sunday’s Week 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

With Washington trailing 26-19 late in the fourth quarter, Howell had another chance for some late-game heroics.

How did he respond? Despite some questionable clock management and timeout usage by Washington, Howell, facing third-and-10 with around 53 seconds remaining, found former college teammate Dyami Brown for a 35-yard touchdown.

Here’s the play:

What an outstanding drive from Howell.

Unfortunately, he left too much time on the clock for Washington’s struggling defense. Seattle quarterback Geno Smith found wide receiver DK Metcalf for two big completions in the final seconds, leaving kicker Jason Myers the chance to win it. Myers enters and drills a 43-yard field goal as time expired.

Don’t blame Howell, as he completed 29 of 44 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

Dyami Brown cleared to return after being checked for concussion

More good injury news for the Commanders.

The Washington Commanders saw star wide receiver Terry McLaurin leave Monday’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens with a toe injury. Fortunately, McLaurin doesn’t appear to be seriously injured as X-rays were negative.

However, in the third quarter, Washington saw another of its wide receivers take a shot. Dyami Brown, entering his third NFL season and a college teammate of quarterback Sam Howell, was hit after he went to the ground on an incomplete pass.

The initial replay didn’t look good, and the Commanders pulled Brown from the game, where they announced he was being evaluated for a possible concussion.

After he departed the game, Brown looked fine, speaking and laughing with his teammates on the sideline

Fortunately, Washington received more good injury news as Brown was cleared to return to the game.

Brown, of course, didn’t need to re-enter the game as his roster spot is secure, but the Commanders dodged another bullet at the wide receiver position.

PHOTOS: Sam Howell on Monday Night Football vs. Ravens

Take a look at photos of former UNC football quarterback Sam Howell against the Baltimore Ravens.

A week after Ron Rivera made it official and named Sam Howell as the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders, the former North Carolina standout delivered.

In one half against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Howell completed 19 of his 25 attempts for 188 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown went to his former teammate Dyami Brown and it gave the Commanders a halftime lead.

Howell has looked impressive, although it only being a preseason game that is very encouraging. That’s a good sign for the quarterback as he’s set to lead this team here in 2023.

Let’s check out some photos from Howell’s game against the Ravens on Monday:

Commanders lead Ravens 17-14 at halftime of 2nd preseason game

Sam Howell with touchdowns on back-to-back drives to end the first half.

The Baltimore Ravens entered Monday night’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders, winners of 24 consecutive preseason games.

At halftime, the Commanders lead the Ravens, 17-14, on the strength of two Sam Howell touchdown passes. Yes, you read that correctly. Howell and Washington’s offense played the entire first half. Howell completed 19 of 25 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

The Commanders played most of their starting offense for the entire half, including star wide receiver Terry McLaurin who left on the final drive of the first half with what looked like an ankle injury.

Howell ended Washington’s first drive inside the five-yard line, leading to a Joey Slye field goal. On the Commanders’ final two drives before halftime, Howell found running back Antonio Gibson and wide receiver Dyami Brown for touchdowns to give Washington the lead.

Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and tight end Logan Thomas were the Washington starters who did not suit up. As for Washington’s defense, the only starters on the field were linebackers Cody Barton and Jamin Davis and rookie first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.

 

Commanders WR Dyami Brown says don’t underestimate QB Sam Howell

Brown and Howell set records together at UNC.

Dyami Brown arrived at North Carolina in 2018. As a true freshman, Brown played in 10 games, catching 17 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown.

Not a bad debut for a true freshman.

One year later, another true freshman would arrive in Chapel Hill and help Brown set records for the Tar Heels. True freshman quarterback Sam Howell arrived in 2019 and immediately became UNC’s starting quarterback.

In 2019, Brown caught 51 passes for 1,034 yards, averaging 20.3 yards per reception, with 12 touchdown receptions. How did he follow that up in 2020? Brown caught 55 passes for 1,099, averaging 20 yards per catch, with eight touchdowns.

Howell would enter the 2021 NFL draft, while Howell returned for one more season in Chapel Hill.

Things didn’t go great for either player in 2021. Howell lost all of his weapons, including his top two receivers and top two running backs, to the draft, while Brown struggled as a rookie with the Washington Commanders.

Howell would rebound and finish his final college season on a strong note, but he would fall to the first pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft — to the Commanders.

That meant Howell and Brown, who set records together in college, would reunite in Washington.

Last week, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera named Howell the starting quarterback. Howell has worked with the starting offense all offseason and training camp, building a rapport with his offensive weapons. He’s also picked up where he left off with Brown, whose strong offseason has continued into training camp.

The pair have worked out together away from the facility throughout the offseason, and Brown recently discussed Howell after a training camp practice.

“We just want to go out there and show what we can do,” Brown said, per Zach Selby of commanders.com. “We still have a lot of guys that can go out there and do some things and can prove themselves, even myself. But I think we just want to take this game, and we always wanna come out with a win, but at the end of the day, we just wanna show what we can do.”

Brown believes the sky is the limit for his friend and former college quarterback and current NFL quarterback.

“I don’t underestimate the man at all,” Brown said. “I’ve seen him do a lot, and I think he can do more than whatever he’s been doing. I just have all faith in him.”

Howell still must prove things on the field in 2023, but more people continue to jump aboard the Howell train heading into the regular season.

Ravens stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down heading into preseason matchup with Commanders?

We’re looking who’s seen their stock rise and stock fall ahead of the Baltimore #Ravens preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders via @thacover2NFL

The Ravens are starting to form their 53-man depth chart and as the team prepares for a preseason tilt against the Commanders, several stock portfolio’s are starting to take shape.

Baltimore has a loaded roster, with more players on the roster bubble, than available slots on the depth chart.

With the team wrapping up a morning session ahead of Monday’s national television appearance, we’re looking at who’s stock is up, and who’s stock is declining.

The hype about Zay Flowers is real and he’s excluded from the list because his stock pprtfolio is obviously high.