Patience is key with Sam Howell, Commanders O-Line not so much

The 19 sacks given up in three games are the most in 18 years. It's worth noting that many of them have been due to Howell holding onto the ball for too long, especially on Sunday when he had by far his worst game as a pro. He threw four interceptions in addition to his indecisiveness in the pocket.

That being said, Howell is an inexperienced 23-year-old who is playing in his first season as a starter. There will be growing pains, as there are with any young quarterback. There will be rude awakenings that he must learn from. This is one of them.

Commanders fans who've waited decades to have a franchise QB won't want to hear it after a game like Sunday's, but the team must take its lumps with Howell and let him play through his mistakes. With the flashes he's shown, no one should be giving up on him as a long-term answer anywhere near this quickly.

However, perhaps the single biggest key in allowing a young quarterback to thrive is an offensive line that can protect him. Howell does not have that, and in hindsight it's an issue that should have been given more attention this past offseason.

Washington drafted defensive backfield players with both of its first two picks, and while first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes has shown promise, second-rounder Quan Martin already seems like a selection that would've been better used to address a different need.

The Commanders' free agent signings of Andrew Wylie and Nick Gates haven't moved the needle, either. This unit was already a weakness last season, and now Washington is stuck with arguably the worst offensive line in the NFL.

There's only so much they can do about it. Trade options and free agents are limited. The line simply must play better, and if they can't, then the rest of the offense must find a way to overcome it. The way that Howell, OC Eric Bieniemy, and company react to this week's setback will be crucial.