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Will Drake Maye be in Philly Sunday cheering on Sam Howell?
Carolina’s two record-breaking quarterbacks became good friends when Maye was a red-shirted freshman learning in practice every day from Howell, who had become an ACC star from the first game of his college career.
Since then, Howell has been on the UNC sideline whenever the Washington Commanders had an off-weekend and the Tar Heels played nearby, like at App State last season and in Charlotte to begin the current campaign.
Howell may need some encouragement from his protégé following a disastrous third game of the season after posting three straight wins as a starting quarterback, dating back to a 29-28 exhibition victory over the Ravens.
That is the game that sent Howell careening into the regular season as the team’s starter after going 19 of 25 with two TD passes and no picks, with coach Ron Rivera naming Howell his QB1.
So it is fair to wonder if Maye is considering using his open date weekend to run up to Philly for the Commanders’ Sunday game at the undefeated and powerful Eagles, who are led by another recent college star in Jalen Hurts.
Sam Howell has shown flashes to Washington Commanders fans of the star quarterback he was at UNC. After suffering his first blowout loss against the Bill last week, Howell and Washington have another tough opponent in Week 4: the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo via Associated Press/Jack Dempsey.)
After all, Howell is coming off perhaps the worst game of his entire football career, dating back to college and high school. It wasn’t just a 37-3 loss to three-time AFC East champion Buffalo; it was much more than that.
Howell was sacked an amazing nine times by the Bills defense for 45 yards in losses. When he did get to throw the ball, 4 of his 29 attempts were intercepted. His one escape resulted in an 18-yard gain. He had a 19 QB rating.
The Commanders and Howell had a great start to the regular season, with exhilarating wins over the Cardinals at home and his dramatic battle with all-star Russell Wilson in the 35-33 upset of the Broncos in Denver.
Their return to Washington was expected to be close versus the Bills, who had lost to the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets and followed that with a ho-hum win over the Las Vegas Raiders. But Howell never had a chance.
After being sacked 10 times in his first two games, that number grew to 19, and people are weighing in on whether it’s the Commanders’ offensive line, Howell holding the ball too long or both.
Maye can’t teach an NFL starter much, more the opposite. But his support might be welcomed on what could be another long day for Howell.
Featured photo via AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.
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