Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell Has Two 'Really Special' Running Backs

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell leads the NFL in passing and having backs like Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson help him find production, even when the plays don't go the way they're planned.

ASHBURN, Va. -- There are some who think a young quarterback's best friend is a strong tight end and even stronger running game, and Sam Howell has a pretty solid crew in those areas with the Washington Commanders. 

In the Commanders' latest outing, a 29-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the game didn't end the way he would've wanted it, but Howell himself had great success through the air including two touchdowns thrown to running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson.

"Those guys are awesome football players. Obviously, they can run the ball at a really high level, but what makes those guys really special is what they can do in the passing game as well," Howell said. "(Robinson) is not a guy who's known for catching the ball out of the backfield, he's a power runner and a guy who runs the ball downhill but he does a really good job as far as check-downs and scramble drill-type stuff. He has a good feel for the game, he's just a smart football player."

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) says having running backs like Brian Robinson Jr. (8) and Antonio Gibson (24) helps him have confidence when plays break down / USA Today

Finding Robinson is exactly what Howell did when the pair of second-year players combined football intelligence to get Washington its first score of the game.

Facing 2nd-and-8 on his own 49-yard line Howell took a snap looking to find tight end Logan Thomas in the flat to his right side but pulled the ball down as two Seahawks defenders threatened the passing lane. 

Now looking to avoid the pass rush and take a sack Howell tucked the ball and scrambled to the left side of his offensive line looking for space to run. 

As Seattle's second-level defenders converged to take down the Commanders quarterback Howell kept his eyes up and Robinson ran into open space behind the defense.

The result at the end of it all was an improvised nine-yard pass that Robinson turned into a 51-yard touchdown and an early lead for Washington.

"That just makes me feel comfortable as a quarterback knowing that I'll always have someone I can dump the ball down to," Howell continued. "In the Seattle game, (Robinson) probably told me five times before the game, 'If the play breaks down come find me I'll always be open,' and it just so happens that it worked out that way."

Later on with Washington needing heroics from its first-year starter, it was Gibson's time to get involved, and the result this time was a beautifully executed 19-yard connection between Howell and his more veteran running back.

"AG came in there in the fourth quarter, ran an awesome route on a play we tried to get schemed up for him to have a favorable matchup and he did a good job," Howell said of the play.

That score helped the Commanders close a seven-point gap with Seattle. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and even another touchdown toss from Howell - that time to receiver Dyami Brown - didn't bring home a win from the Pacific Northwest.

If there's any solace in the loss, however, it's that Washington seems to have found its young quarterback of the future and he has plenty of weapons to continue finding offensive success.

And that has the potential to keep the Commanders competitive in any game while the defense continues to seek out ways to provide complimentary football.