The Indianapolis Colts started the year better than they probably even hoped. The team blew the doors off the Miami Dolphins in a convincing 33-8 win. This win was extra special for multiple reasons, including Jim Irsay's Ring of Honor induction and the end of their embarrassing 11-year-long Week 1 curse.
For one player, though, there was another reason this win just meant more. That player is longtime former Dolphin Xavien Howard , who was able to take down his former team in his first game with the Colts. After reflecting on the win, he had a lot to say about his former team, especially one former teammate who struggled with Tua Tagovailoa.
Xavien Howard on facing Tua Tagovailoa: “We knew [Tua], he gets the ball out pretty quick. And once we take away his first read, I feel like it's panic mode after that. And it showed yesterday." (@KentSterling) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/7ek1jImA61
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 8, 2025
Tua had a rough go of it in Week 1. He began the game with an interception on the opening drive and finished the day completing only 14 of his 23 attempts for 114 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a fumble lost. Howard spent a lot of time with Tua as a teammate on the opposite side of the ball and got to go to battle with him in practice a lot of the years. So it's safe to assume he knows the QB pretty well.
And he explained that in his reflection on the game. "Once we take away his first read, I feel like it's panic mode after that" is a mic drop type of statement from Howard. He also shared that he helped provide information about his former team and QB to the Colts ahead of the matchup. "I told them, clog up the middle," said Howard, "and make sure they throw the ball outside... we got two interceptions by clogging the middle." Howard is right, both interceptions from the Colts came in the middle of the field, the first being Cam Bynum's off a ball Tua sailed, and the other being Laiatu Latu, who unexpectedly dropped back into coverage and appeared to confuse Tua.
Xavien Howard on what he told the Indianapolis Colts defense vs. Miami Dolphins: "I told them, clog up the middle and make sure they throw the ball outside... we got two interceptions by clogging the middle." (@KentSterling) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/KhAGLPdX1V
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 9, 2025
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