Tag: Sam Howell

When they last met: Commanders and Falcons

The last few games between the Commanders and Falcons have come down to the wire.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 24, Atlanta 16 – Week 6, October 15, 2023

Jamin Davis intercepted Desmond Ridder’s pass at the Washington 25 with 26 seconds remaining to wrap up Washington’s 24-16 win over the Falcons in Atlanta.

Sam Howell’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robinson Jr. extended the Commanders’ lead to 24-10 with 12:03 remaining in the third quarter. The Falcons had responded with an 81-yard drive in 12 plays, concluding with Ridder connecting with Jonnu Smith from two yards, narrowing their deficit to 24-16, but the two-point conversion failed with 12:38 in the final quarter.

The Falcons certainly had their opportunity to win the game. They drove 82 yards in 11 plays to the Commanders’ 7-yard line. However, Ridder then threw weakly, off his back foot, lobbing a pass into the end zone that Benjamin St-Juste intercepted with 5:13 remaining in the game.

On their final possession, the Falcons again drove the ball, this time 59 yards in seven plays to the Washington 34 with 31 seconds on the clock. Ridder dropped back and was eyeing Bijon Robinson from the snap. Davis undercut the route, and Ridder, having already predetermined to throw to Robinson, threw the pass right into the ’52’ of Davis, who made the game-saving interception at the 27-yard line.

The two fourth-quarter interceptions for Washington were huge. The Commanders had been outplayed all day as the Falcons amassed 402 offensive yards to only 193 for the Commanders. However, Washington won the turnover battle 3-0 and also benefited from a 61-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder.

Howell completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards, three touchdowns and a 119.7 passer rating. Terry McLaurin led Washington with 81 receiving yards on his six receptions, including a long of 22 yards.

The road win evened Washington’s record at 3-3. However, they would only win one other time, finishing 2023 a miserable 4-13, resulting in Ron Rivera being fired. The Falcons fell to 3-3 with the loss.

Seahawks need QB Geno Smith to play through injury, if possible

Seahawks need QB Geno Smith to play through injury, if possible

Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Geno Smith exited Sunday’s devastating primetime defeat to the Green Bay Packers with a knee injury. Smith was 15-of-19 with 149 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception prior to his setback. He was replaced by Sam Howell, who dreadfully completed just five of 14 passes for 14 yards, was sacked four times, and threw an ugly interception.

There’s been optimism surrounding Smith’s injury since the team assessed the damage, confirming none of it is structural. Smith has already expressed optimism, through head coach Mike Macdonald, that he’ll be healthy enough to play versus the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. If his injury is truly minor, the Seahawks desperately need their starting QB to suit up.

The Seahawks have an incredibly difficult matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. The 12-2 Vikings are now tied for first place in the NFC North with the banged-up Detroit Lions and possess a legitimate opportunity to win the division and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Seahawks won’t have a realistic chance against the surging Vikings if Howell starts.

Smith is a hard-nosed, tough quarterback. If he’s medically cleared, there’s no doubt he’ll be campaigning to play versus the Vikings. With the postseason now at risk, the Seahawks need their starting QB now more than ever.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

The Seattle Seahawks suffered a costly defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Seattle was knocked from both their perch atop the NFC West (as the Los Angeles Rams have now taken over due to their head-to-head victory earlier this year) and out of the NFC playoff picture entirely. The Seahawks’ postseason odds plummeted after the blowout loss in prime time.

Seattle’s path forward does not get any easier, as the now 12-2 Minnesota Vikings are coming to town this weekend. The Seahawks’ backs are against the wall and are desperate for a win, but unfortunately for them, the Vikings have plenty to play for as well.

Thanks to the Detroit Lions losing 48-42 to the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota now controls their own destiny for both winning the NFC North… and even earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Yes, that’s right. The Minnesota Vikings with Sam Darnold at quarterback could have a first round bye in the playoffs. Should the Vikes beat the Hawks on Sunday, as well as winning against the Packers in Week 17 (Minnesota won in Lambeau earlier this year) and defeat the Lions in Week 18, they will be the No. 1 seed. Even if the Philadelphia Eagles also finish 15-2, the Vikings still edge them out.

So yeah, the Seahawks won’t be catching any kind of “break” from an opponent who doesn’t necessarily “need” a win this weekend. Seattle will be getting the best Minnesota has to offer, because the Vikings know how difficult the next two weeks will also be for them.

The Seahawks better hope quarterback Geno Smith’s optimism for being able to play this weekend isn’t misplaced.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1360]

Seahawks suggested as possible destination for Panthers QB Bryce Young

Seahawks suggested as possible destination for Panthers QB Bryce Young

The NFL is the ultimate “what have you done for me lately?” league. When it comes to quarterback Bryce Young, it’s clear the Carolina Panthers aren’t thrilled with what he has done as of late. In the 2023 NFL Draft, Carolina made Bryce Young the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. Only 18 games later, Young is now on the bench, replaced by veteran journeyman Andy Dalton.

Not much has gone right for the Panthers in the last couple of seasons. We’ve just made it to Week 3, and once more they appear to be the worst team in the league by a considerable margin. Young, with a 2-16 record as a starter, has lost both of them this year. Through two games, Young is only completing 55% of his passes for 245 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions as Carolina looks entirely uncompetitive.

Apparently, two games is all first time head coach (and former Seahawks quarterback coach) Dave Canales has needed to see from his young signal caller. At the moment, the question becomes “what now?” for Young. Perhaps Young truly isn’t cut out for the league. Or perhaps the Panthers are such a dysfunctional organization where a second chance elsewhere is borderline deserved. For example, both Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were on Carolina in 2022. Now, those two are flourishing with the Vikings and Buccaneers, respectively.

When it comes to potential new landing spots, ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested the Miami Dolphins as his top option. Makes sense, considering the ‘Phins have no idea what the future will look like for Tua Tagovailoa. However, Graziano did say “don’t sleep on the Jets, Rams and Seahawks if Young were available.”

The future of the quarterback position in Seattle may not be as murky as Miami’s, but to say it’s settled for the longterm is not accurate. Yes, Geno Smith is playing lights out football, and has been during his tenure in Seattle. But he is soon to be 34, and will be entering the last year of his contract in 2025.

That being said, the Seahawks did trade for quarterback Sam Howell, who is already seen as a reclamation project. Still, Young was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for a reason, and widely seen as one of the best prospects.

Whatever the future may hold, you can bet Seattle’s general manager John Schneider is at least looking into the possibility. As he’s said many times before, he’s in on every deal.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1360]

Former UNC QBs exchange jerseys after Week 2 NFL Action

The Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots matchup involved two former star UNC quarterbacks.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were extremely lucky to have elite quarterback production over the past five seasons.

Sam Howell started at UNC from 2019-2021, breaking 27 school records in the process. Drake Maye started for North Carolina in both 2022 and 2023, playing himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation each year, plus leading the Tar Heels to hot starts and high rankings each year.

The Washington Commanders took Howell in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he is now playing for the Seattle Seahawks. The New England Patriots took Maye third overall this year, but he is backing up Jacoby Brissett.

On Sunday, Sept. 15 after the Patriots and Seahawks played each other, Howell and Maye exchanged jerseys in an always-popular postgame tradition.

Howell initially started his career as Carson Wentz’ backup, then beat out Jacoby Brissett as the starter for 2023. Poor play led to Howell’s benching, though, and eventual trade to Seattle for a fresh start.

https://twitter.com/mikekadlick/status/1835413597687554528

Ironically enough, Maye is now the backup to Brissett in New England. Maye started out training camp rough, then improved drastically and – after the preseason – had people wondering if he beat out Brissett for the Patriots’ starting job.

It’s always fun watching a pair of former Tar Heels play at the next level. Imagine how cool it would’ve been if Maye and Howell started.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

How to buy Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos 2024 Week 1 NFL tickets

Tickets are still available for the #Seahawks home opener against the #Broncos. Get yours before they’re gone:

The start of the Seattle Seahawks’ regular season is just a few days away.

The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will kickoff their respective seasons with a Week 1 matchup on Sept. 8, 2024, at 4:05 p.m. at Lumen Field.

This opener features two teams from different conferences who could be looking toward a new future under center. That makes this a potentially highly anticipated game.

Only limited tickets remain for this first game in Seattle.

SHOP: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos tickets

In terms of the Seahawks, they do still have Geno Smith under center. However, former Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell is in Seattle, too. An interesting duo moving forward…

On the flip side, the Broncos, quarterback Russell Wilson is gone. Their hopes now rest with first-round rookie Bo Nix.

Will the Broncos or Seahawks take this cross-conference battle? Tickets for this contest start as low as $123.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Broncos at Seahawks Week 1 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/W4EaBd2″]

How to buy Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL Week 1 tickets

Tickets are still available for the #Broncos opener against the #Seahawks. Get yours before they’re gone:

The start of the Denver Broncos’ regular season is just a few days away.

The Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will kickoff their respective seasons with a Week 1 matchup on Sept. 8, 2024, at 4:05 p.m. at Lumen Field.

This opener features two teams from different conferences who could be looking toward a new future under center. That makes this a potentially highly anticipated game.

Only limited tickets remain for this first game in Seattle.

SHOP: Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks tickets

In terms of the Broncos, quarterback Russell Wilson is gone. Their hopes now rest with first-round rookie Bo Nix.

On the flip side, the Seahawks do still have Geno Smith under center. However, former Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell is in Seattle, too. An interesting duo moving forward…

Will the Broncos or Seahawks take this cross-conference battle? Tickets for this contest start as low as $123.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Broncos vs. Seahawks Week 1 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/W4EaBd2″]

It’s safe to say Saints won draft-day Chris Olave trade

It’s safe to say the Saints won their draft-day Chris Olave trade. Washington just dealt another player they got with picks from New Orleans:

Well, it’s safe to say the New Orleans Saints won their draft-day Chris Olave trade with the Washington Commanders back in 2022. The Commanders traded another player they got with the picks New Orleans sold to move up for Olave in that year’s draft, parting ways with former first-round wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Meanwhile, Olave is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Remember, the Saints traded up to No. 11 in exchange for their picks at Nos. 16, 98 and 120. Washington made some other moves with those picks to acquire the following players:

  • WR Jahan Dotson
  • RB Brian Robinson Jr.
  • QB Sam Howell
  • TE Cole Turner

Two of them have already been dealt to other teams, with Dotson going to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year. Turner has been limited to 22 of the last 34 games while Robinson has found moderate success as their lead running back.

And the Saints are continuing to lean on Olave. Guys like Rashid Shaheed, Juwan Johnson, and Alvin Kamara will demand targets but he’s by far the most-accomplished young player in the room. Olave is both the present and the future at wide receiver for the Saints and his usage will reflect that. Expect another big year for No. 12 in 2024.

It’s just a shame the Saints haven’t gotten similar production out of Trevor Penning, who they spent several future draft picks to acquire in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Penning is fighting for a spot in the starting lineup after getting benched and moved from left tackle to right, which is disappointing no matter how you spin it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Sam Howell has another solid preseason game

Former UNC quarterback Sam Howell is enjoying a strong preseason, but is it enough for him to land the Seattle Seahawks’ starting quarterback job?

Former UNC quarterback Sam Howell started most of last year for the Washington Commanders, leading the NFL in passing yards at one point.

Howell struggled later in 2023, prompting Washington to bench him for Jacoby Brissett. The Commanders, who kept flip-flopping between Howell and Brissett, made it clear Howell wasn’t the franchise QB they selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Washington quickly decided they would look to the 2024 NFL Draft for its next franchise quarterback, opting to take Jayden Daniels out of LSU. This made Howell the odd man, so the Commanders traded him to the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle already has Geno Smith starting under center, but Howell’s strong preseason could force new Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald to make a tough decision.

In the Seahawks’ 16-15 loss at the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, August 17, Howell completed 11-of-14 passes for a game-high 153 yards and one touchdown.

Check out Howell’s first-quarter touchdown pass, which opened the scoring for both teams.

Through two preseason games, Howell has 283 passing yards and two touchdowns. Howell is showcasing stellar accuracy, completing 27 of 41 passes.

It’s common for starters to sit the preseason until the third and final game, with coaches wisely not wanting their stars to risk injury.

While Geno should be the Week 1 guy in Seattle, Howell’s 2024 preseason and early 2023 success could be enough to land him the Seahawks’ starting gig.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Seahawks fall to Titans 16-15 in preseason Week 2

Seahawks fall to Titans 16-15 in preseason Week 2

Another week, another low-scoring defensive affair from Mike Macdonald’s Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately for Seattle, their ability to cross the 15-point threshold was not enough for the win this week, as they fell 16-15 to the Titans in Nashville.

The Seahawks started strong. After punts on their first two possessions, they marched 84-yards in only eight plays, taking an early 6-0 lead thanks to Sam Howell’s 23-yard strike to Easop Winston Jr. Unfortunately, kicker Jason Myers missed the PAT. It was a strong night overall for Myers, who did his best to keep the Seahawks in a position to win, but sadly that missed extra point loomed large.

Tennessee scored right before the half, but Sam Howell led the team on one final scoring drive to close out the second quarter to go into intermission with a 12-7 lead. However, Tennessee played keep-away from the Seahawks in the second half.

The Titans outright dominated time of possession, 37:49 to 22:11 as the defense simply could not get off the field. And when the offense was on, they could not remain on. Seattle finished with only 239 yards as a team.

Late magic almost went their way, after safety Ty Okada picked off Malik Willis on third down, giving the Seahawks one final chance. PJ Walker got Seattle in position for a 50-yard field goal from Myers, who did connect to give the Seahawks a 15-13 lead with 1:55 left in the game. Unfortunately, just like last December, Seattle’s defense could not get a stop from Mason Rudolph who led the game winning drive for Tennessee.

The Seahawks now fall to 1-1 in exhibition games this summer, and will close out the preseason next Saturday at 7:00 pm against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Sam Howell finds Easop Winston Jr. for 23-yard touchdown

First half highlights between Seahawks vs Titans

Seahawks S Ty Okada secures clutch interception late

Geno Smith posts cryptic message on Instagram