Washington’s win over the Cardinals offered plenty of reasons to believe Howell can still be a fine quarterback — the simplest being that he has started only two games in his young career — but a takeover by the Commanders’ defensive line decided the game.
Playing without defensive end Chase Young, who suffered a stinger in the preseason, Washington’s star trio of end Montez Sweat and tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne combined to shift the momentum back in Washington’s favor in the second half, sparking a turnaround the offense couldn’t muster on its own.
“That’s what we pride ourselves on, defense closing games,” Sweat said.