Commanders’ Sam Howell: ‘I Love Playing on the Road’

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell talked about his thoughts on making a road start for the first time in his NFL career.

Sam Howell has made two starts for the Washington Commanders, and has two wins to show for it. However, a new challenge is ahead of him in Week 2, and the second-year quarterback is embracing what he calls "a great opportunity." 

After making his first two career starts at FedExField, Howell will start on the road for the first time in his NFL career Sunday, as the Commanders travel to Denver to face off with coach Sean Payton's Broncos in the second game of the season. 

“Yeah, I'm excited. I love playing on the road," Howell said. "It's a lot of fun to go play at another team's home and try to give it your best shot. We feel like we can go in there and we have a good opportunity to go play against a really good football team in a really cool stadium, really cool environment. It's just a great opportunity for us as an offense. We've got to have a really good week of practice and a really good week of preparation to go in there and give ourselves a chance.”

Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders will look to improve to 2-0.  / Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports

While the Commanders were victorious in Week 1, they did let an Arizona Cardinals team that most expect to be the worst in the sport hang around for quite a while, ultimately winning 20-16. It's tough to know what to make of the Broncos right now -- 2022 was a train wreck, and then they lost their first game of 2023 by a point to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders -- but they are definitely a better team than the Cardinals. 

From a national perspective, much of the focus will remain on whether quarterback Russell Wilson -- who completed 27 of 34 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 -- can rebound in his first season playing in Payton's offense, following a disastrous 2022. 

But how Howell develops, or doesn't, may end up having bigger playoff implications. Washington won seven games a season ago, despite a bleak quarterback situation with Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. Howell completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Week 1, while also adding a rushing score. If he can build on that in a winnable Week 2 game against the Broncos, Howell and the Commanders could very well compete for a Wild Card spot this season.