Sam Howell is most aware of how many times he has been hit this season.
After all, we may see it on film, but Howell alone feels each of those hits.
Howell spoke with the media Wednesday and at one point declared, “When I run the ball, I need to do a better job of just getting down, sliding, protecting myself.”
He certainly does need to do that.
Howell has now started six NFL games, and he is 3-3 in those starts. Sunday, Howell will lead the Commanders into Atlanta to face the Falcons. You probably recall the last time Washington went to Atlanta. It was 2021, and they needed a DeAndre Carter kickoff return touchdown and a Taylor Heinicke late-drive touchdown pass to J.D. McKissic to pull out an exciting 34-30 victory.
“When I’m out on the field, I just want to win. But at the same time, I have to take care of myself, make sure I can protect my body, and make sure I can make it through the season.”
Howell was alluding to the fact that he leads the NFL in being sacked the most times (29) after five weeks. Daniel Jones (28) and Justin Fields (20) are the only other NFL quarterbacks to have been sacked at least 20 times. The Commanders are 2-3, while the Giants and Bears are both 1-4.
So, there is some correlation between your quarterback being sacked and your team coming up with NFL wins. Further, Howell has lost 185 yards in the 29 times he’s been sacked. Jones has lost 150 yards and Fields 125.
Which quarterback has been sacked fourth most in the NFL? That is Ryan Tannehill of the Titans (17) and Desmond Ridder (Falcons), whom the Commanders face Sunday is next with being sacked 16 times. Ridder has lost 119 yards from scrimmage in his being sacked.
This is one quarterback statistic you can be sure both Howell, Ridder, and their respective teams are being made quite aware of this week.