By R.L. Bynum
Sam Howell bounced back from throwing three interceptions the week before with a better game against Washington’s bitter rival, the Dallas Cowboys, but it still resulted in a loss.
Howell didn’t throw a touchdown pass but was 28 of 44 for 300 yards with one interception and a touchdown run in the Commanders’ 45–10 loss Thursday in Dallas for their third consecutive defeat.
In his first game against Dallas since making his NFL debut in Washington’s final game last season, when he led the Commandes to a 26–6 victory, he played particularly well in the first half, connecting on 15 of 21 passes for 159 yards. He engineered a 13-play drive at the end of the first half, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run to cut the Dallas lead to 20–10 at halftime.
Washington drove to the Dallas 39 in the third quarter but failed on a fourth-down try.
“Those things just can’t happen,” Howell said. “From a timing standpoint, obviously, it was a short week. But we can’t make any excuses. Those things can’t happen in a football game. We struggled at times in the short-yardage area in the game. That really hurt us. We struggled to finish drives. We struggled to score points. When you struggle to that against a good football team, it’s hard.”
Howell has had two of his lowest three passer ratings in the last two weeks. After putting up a 62.8 the week before in the 31–19 loss to the New York Giants, his passer rating against Dallas was 74.1. His career-low was 41.5 in the Week 3 37–3 loss to Buffalo.
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland intercepted a Howell pass with 4:50 left and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown for his NFL-record fifth interception return for a touchdown this season.
Washington’s offensive line again had issues protecting Howell, who Dallas sacked four times for 32 yards.
Dyami Brown was only targeted for one pass, and he didn’t make the catch.
Cowboys offensive lineman Asim Richards wasn’t active for the game.
Wide receiver Antoine Green was inactive for Detroit’s 29–22 loss Thursday to Green Bay.
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
45–10 Thursday loss at Dallas — 0 catches on 1 target; 19 offensive snaps (24%), 13 special-teams snaps (52%)
Season statistics — 12 games, 1 start; 11 catches, 164 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards; 1 assist
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, vs. Miami, Fox
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.