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Washington Commanders: The 4 Most Impressive Offensive Plays From A Pretty, Ugly Win Against New England Patriots- Focus on Sam Howell

It was an ugly Washington Commanders win against the Patriots, but there were some pretty impressive plays from this game on offense that fans can get excited about, especially from QB Sam Howell.
Eric LazariBy Updated:No Comments5 Mins Read
Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell vs Patriots Week 9 2023
Nov 5, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) gets set to throw a pass while New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (55) defends during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

While the Washington Commanders‘ victory against the Patriots may have been considered an ugly win, there were some undeniably impressive plays that stood out from the game on offense. And if you’re a Sam Howell and Commanders fan, there’s a lot to be excited about coming away from the Week 9 Patriots game. Sam Howell has been starting to generate some buzz after back-to-back games with over 325 passing yards in each of the games against the Patriots and Eagles, and presently being top 2 in NFL total passing yards. However, if you’re still one of those who perceive Sam Howell primarily just as a fifth-round pick, then this will be your introduction to a young budding quarterback talent.

This article will showcase three of the Commanders’ young quarterback’s exceptional plays from Week 9. And, of course, I can’t forget to include Brian Robinson Jr.’s touchdown as well. So, let’s dive into the highlights from the Commanders’ offense in this game. But before we get to the “pretty”, let’s get the “ugly” in the “ugly win” out of the way.

What made this an Ugly Washington Commanders’ Win?

3 Words: Two Ugly Turnovers

  1. What had happened was… Sam Howell and “The Ugly, Ugly Interception”: Howell orchestrated an impressive 15-play, 75-yard drive that brought the Commanders down to the New England Patriots’ five-yard line. Trailing 14-10 with 23 seconds left in the first half and the clock still running, on first-and-goal, Howell threw the ball directly into the hands of Patriots safety Kyle Dugger. The interception killed any momentum going into half-time, with the Commanders unable to score any points and still facing a deficit. I don’t know what Sam was seeing or thinking here; he left at least three probable points on the field and a likelihood of a possible 7 points, considering there were two more downs to take shots at a touchdown. It was an awful play that Howell, before the November 8th Wednesday practice, admitted was “one of the worst” in his career:

    “Honestly, you don’t really have a choice but to just get over it. Obviously, it was a devastating play at the time and, like I said after the game, probably one of the worst plays in my career. But, at the end of the day, we’re still down at halftime and still have a football game to win. Everyone around me did a good job just trying to pick me back up. I just relied on my teammates and tried to go back out there in the second half and make up for it.”

  2. What had happened was, part 2… Brian Robinson Jr. and “The Other Ugly Turnover”: In the 2nd quarter, after a decent 7-yard run, Brian Robinson Jr.’s lost fumble gave the ball to the Patriots at the Commanders’ 25-yard-line. The Patriots scored their first touchdown three plays later, making the score 10-7 instead of 10-0 with the Commanders still driving on their possession with a chance to put them up by three scores. This lost fumble, coupled with Howell’s interception, were the two biggest factors that gave the momentum and the lead at halftime to the Patriots.

Now let’s get to the fun part: Sam Howell and the offense’s most impressive plays from the Patriots game.

The 4 Most Impressive Plays from the Commanders Offense vs the Patriots

  1. Running Back Brian Robinson Jr. and “The Untouched TD Run” 
    His untouched touchdown run for 9 yards was particularly impressive, especially given that Brian Robinson Jr. was positioned deep in the backfield, near the Patriots’ 17-yard line.

  2. Sam Howell and “The Run”
    Sam Howell incredibly breaks two tackles and runs 24 yards to convert 3rd and 23. Amazing Effort with a capital “E”!

  3. Sam Howell and “The No, No, Yess Throw”
    In this remarkable play, Sam Howell sprints to his right towards the sideline to escape a blitzing Patriots linebacker. While the Patriots defender is quickly closing in on him, Howell leaps and throws off his back foot across the opposite side of the field to Pringle, converting a challenging third-and-7 and gaining an impressive 26 yards on a catch-and-run. It’s especially impressive considering the (usually ill-advised) dangerous across-his-body throw.

  4. Sam Howell and “The Dot to Dotson TD”
    And last but not least. With the Commanders in Patriot’s territory, Sam Howell throws an absolute “dot” to wide receiver Jahan Dotson in the end zone, tying the score at 17-17 in the 3rd quarter.

Sam Howell Bonus Material

Nothing Ugly About This: Howell’s 4 Most Improbable Completions From Week 9 Win

Here’s the video on Twitter/X posted by @NextGenStats with the four most improbable completions from Sam Howell in the Patriots game. Of course, “The Dot to Dotson” has made it onto this list! Check it out (twice).

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Hailing originally from Virginia's Tidewater region, I've since found my home and settled in sunny Southern California. My family's deep-seated connection to athletics and competition has been an intrinsic part of my life, influencing my journey and molding my unique viewpoint. I’ve had a lifetime of passion for all things sports, especially the Washington Commanders, NFL, and combat sports.

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