Xavien Howard shines in Colts’ dominant victory over Dolphins
Xavien Howard, once a cornerstone of the Miami Dolphins’ secondary, showcased his prowess in his first meeting against his former team while donning the blue and white of the Indianapolis Colts. In a commanding 33-8 victory, Howard made it clear that the game plan against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was straightforward—and it proved effective.
Howard’s candid assessment of Tagovailoa
After the game, Howard provided insight into the strategy that rattled Tagovailoa throughout the contest. “We knew the guy gets the ball out pretty quick,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of disrupting Tagovailoa’s rhythm. “Once we take away his first read, I feel like it’s panic mode after that. And it showed yesterday.” The Colts’ defensive scheme was clearly designed to exploit this vulnerability, and the results were undeniable.
Struggles for Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa faced a challenging afternoon, completing only 14 of 23 passes for a mere 114 yards. His performance was further marred by two interceptions and a critical fumble. One interception came courtesy of rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu, who expertly baited Tagovailoa into making a mistake while dropping back into coverage. Later, the Colts’ nickel corner Kenny Moore II applied pressure that led to a strip sack, which Howard was quick to recover.
The Dolphins were unable to find the end zone until the fourth quarter, while Tagovailoa’s QBR of 2.7 marked the lowest for a Miami starter since Josh Rosen in 2019. This game also highlighted Tagovailoa’s ongoing struggles, as it was his seventh outing with three or more turnovers since entering the league in 2020.
A personal battle for Howard
For Howard, this matchup held significant weight. The two-time NFL interceptions leader admitted to feeling restless the night before the game, a reflection of his desire to prove himself after being released by the Dolphins earlier this year. Having recently signed with the Colts, Howard expressed his eagerness to make an impact, especially under the guidance of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, with whom he has a strong rapport.
“I wanted to put that out there,” Howard stated, affirming the collective effort of his new team. “As a team, we took care of business.” The Colts’ defense not only stifled the Dolphins but also ensured that Howard’s narrative overshadowed Tagovailoa’s struggles, raising pressing questions about the future of Miami’s offense.
In a game that showcased Howard’s talents and the Colts’ defensive dominance, the former Dolphin made a statement while sending a clear message to both his old team and the league: he is far from finished.
