Entering Sunday’s battle with the Miami Dolphins, Sam Howell — yes, the very same Washington Commanders quarterback — was the NFL’s leader in passing yards with 3,339. But questions remained about Howell’s viability as a franchise quarterback and whether his gaudy numbers were kind of … empty calories? Yeah, let’s say that.
Howell’s awful start against Miami did little to quell these concerns.
After they punted on their first three possessions, Howell tried to launch a simple screen to receiver Jahan Dotson. The only problem was that Dolphins defender Andrew Van Ginkel read the sequence so perfectly that Howell threw it right to him for a backbreaking pick-six.
It’s unquestionably one of the worst pick-sixes we’ve seen all NFL season:
Andrew Van Ginkel Pick-6!
📺: #MIAvsWAS on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/fWh8XUbMEX— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023
Woof that is so brutal, especially for a struggling Commanders team that’s lost three straight games.
Howell has occasionally impressed at quarterback. He has the capacity to drop dimes, and his processing is more advanced than you’d think for a player with only 13 career starts. But atrocious reads like this and numbers like his 10.2 sack percentage (yes, sacks are a quarterback stat) say he still has so much work to do.
So, kudos to Howell for being at the top of the NFL in passing yards. For the time being, on a terrible Commanders team, they mostly mean nothing.
This was how Twitter reacted to Howell's awful pick-six against the Dolphins
Can’t wait for Howell to throw 40 times for 350 yards and people to say he’s good after the game https://t.co/CacIFTwevh
— Ryan (@mattcanadabad) December 3, 2023
Three weeks in a row. Pick-6's are a big problem. https://t.co/hrMUI4OVqk
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) December 3, 2023
Nah commanders fans really thought Howell was gonna take them to the promise land https://t.co/cEQCWsAeAe
— 🗿 (@BigDeuce__) December 3, 2023
Just like they drew it up. (Okay, not really). #EasiestPick6Ever https://t.co/CUn09bR92v
— Darryl Martin (@Kingshark49) December 3, 2023
Thanksgiving may be over, but Tank-cember is off to a great start in DC! https://t.co/yzaScdhgU9
— Ryan Decker (@RyanDecker_) December 3, 2023
Franchise qb material.. https://t.co/OI9HaA29sa
— Smart Football (@SmartfootbalI) December 3, 2023
That's three consectuive weeks that Sam Howell has thrown a pick-6.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) December 3, 2023
Jameis watching Sam Howell pic.twitter.com/DzGmsL4B93
— Fitz (@FitzGSN_) December 3, 2023
Sam Howell on pace right now to finish the season with 78 sacks, which would set the NFL record (76, David Carr). Howell has an extra game, though.
— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) December 3, 2023
