Through the first three games of the 2023 NFL season, the Washington Commanders struggled on third downs. A big issue for the Commanders was the sacks on first or second down, putting quarterback Sam Howell in third-and-long far too often.
In Week 4 against one of the NFL’s top defenses — the Philadelphia Eagles — Washington converted eight of 17 on third down. The Eagles were only four of 12 on third down. Both teams converted twice on fourth downs.
So why was Washington so much better on third downs? One was the game plan from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy’s plan was for Howell to take shorter drops to slow down Philadelphia’s pass rush. It worked.
While the Eagles finished the game with five sacks, none were devastating. The quick passing game allowed Howell to pick up moderate yardage on first and second down, so he didn’t face nearly as many third-and-long situations against Philly.
On Tuesday, Howell spoke about Washington’s success on third downs and how it built confidence.
“I think it’s all about momentum,” Howell said. “Once you kind of pick up one third down, and you pick up another third down, once you get to third down, you just have so much confidence. I think it’s just one of those things where you can kind of get the defense on their heels. I just think the more you can convert on third down, the better you’re going to be on offense. I think that it’s definitely something that creates momentum and helps you moving forward.”
He’s right. Far too often over the years, Washington has struggled on third downs. Quarterback play is often a major culprit. Could Howell’s success against the Eagles be a sign of things to come?
Howell still has a long way to go as a quarterback, but if Bieniemy can tailor a similar plan for Howell each week, it lessens the pressure on a struggling offensive line.
Next up is the Chicago Bears. And while Chicago is winless, Howell understands every NFL game is hard to win.
“There’s no easy games in the NFL, and they have a lot of really good players on their defense, and they fly around,” he said.
LIVE: QB Sam Howell speaks to the media before practice https://t.co/iGz5gZzec2
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 3, 2023