By R.L. Bynum
For the second time in five days, Sam Howell was dealing, had a gutsy efford and tried to rally the Washington Commanders but came up short.
He was again unable to get Washington a victory, but he has commanded the attention of the NFL after his performance in the Commanders’ 40–20 loss Thursday night at home against the Chicago Bears that racked up 26.42 fantasy points.
“It’s tough. I think it was a game that we were capable of winning,” Howell said. “Kind of put ourselves in a hole in the first half and trying to find our way back in the second half, but we came up short.”
Washington (2–3) trailed the previously winless Bears 27–3 at halftime, but Howell threw two second-half touchdown passes to make it close. Howell ran over the two-point conversion after a 2-yard touchdown pass to Logan Thomas with 12:06 left in the third quarter.
“It hurts right now,” Howell said. “But I think the main thing is that everyone in that locker room knows what we’re capable of doing.”
Howell’s numbers were solid Thursday, distributing passes to 11 receivers. He completed 37 of 51 passes for 388 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and a 99.1 passer rating. He had four rushes for 19 yards, including a 10-yard run but he was sacked five times for 29 yards in losses.
“I feel all right; body feels good,” Howell said after taking a lot of hits. “I’m gonna go out there and try to do whatever it takes to win. There were some times when I was trying to get the first down on third down, and I wouldn’t take any of those plays back. I’d like to be in a position where we have more control of the game, and I can do a better job protecting myself. But when we’re down with our backs against the wall, I’m gonna do whatever it takes. That’s just how I’ve always been, and I don’t really worry about getting hurt or anything like that. I try to do whatever I can.”
The Commanders could have made it a one-score game after Howell’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel with 10:55 left in the game, but Howell was pressured and could barely get a pass attempt off on the two-point conversion try, leaving the score 30–20.
A missed Commanders field-goal attempt and a 56-yard Bears touchdown pass from Justin Fields to D.J. Moore with 4:18 remaining foiled Washington’s chances.
On Sunday, Howell engineered a pair of fourth-quarter drives to tie the game with Philadelphia before Washington lost 34–31 in overtime.
His longest plays of the game were a 41-yard pass to Antonio Gibson and a 32-yard connection with Terry McLaurin.
Howell targeted Dyami Brown three times, and they connected once for 11 yards.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string WR behind Terry McLaurin
40–20 Thursday loss vs. Chicago — 1 catch on 3 targets, 11 yards; 17 offensive snaps (24%), 18 defensive snaps (60%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 6 catches, 87 yards (35 longest)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Atlanta, CBS
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 23 | 6–1, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
40–20 Thursday loss vs. Chicago — Started; 37 of 51, 388 yards (41 longest), 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 5 sacks for 29 yards, 99.1 passer rating; 4 carries for 19 yards, 26.42 fantasy points; 70 snaps (100%)
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts; 131 of 191, 1,349 yards, 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 14 carries, 101 yards
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Atlanta, CBS
Photo via @Commanders
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