Sam Howell, Daniel Jones on pace to break disconcerting record

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (52) tackles Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Howell, Daniel Jones both on pace to break disconcerting NFL record

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/3/23

Somewhere former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr has a smile on his face.

As the NFL schedule turns to Week 5, Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell and New York Giants QB Daniel Jones are both on pace to take away arguably the most dubious milestone of Carr’s 10-year NFL career: most sacks taken in a single season.

In Monday’s 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Jones was sacked a career-high 10 times, putting him at 22 sacks taken. It was the second time in four games he was sacked seven or more times — a number he reached just once in his previous 54 games entering 2023.

Jones is just the 10th quarterback since 2001 to be sacked 10 or more times in a single game and the first since Marcus Mariota was sacked 11 times as a member of the Tennessee Titans in a 21-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in October 2018.

Following Sunday’s 34-31 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, in which he was sacked five times, Howell leads the league with 24 sacks taken. He’s been sacked four times or more in every game this year, which includes a nine-sack day against the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago.

Highest percentage of pressures that become sacks:

1. Sam Howell 35.8%
2. Ryan Tannehill 32.0
3. Desmond Ridder 28.6
4. Daniel Jones 27.8
5. Derek Carr 27.7@PFF
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) October 3, 2023

Carr currently holds the record for most single-season sacks with 76 during his rookie season with the then-expansion Houston Texans in 2002 — a record that has stood for over two decades.

Carr and Randall Cunningham are the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to be sacked 70 or more times in one season. Howell is on pace for 102 and Jones is on pace for 93.5.

Per Pro Football Focus, Jones is the third-most pressured QB in the NFL (46.5% of drop backs), while Howell is 12th (38.1%). It can be argued some of the sack numbers are self-inflicted as both have had sufficient time to get rid of the ball. Howell ranks 11th in average time to throw (2.92 seconds per drop back), and Jones ranks 16th with 2.87 seconds per drop back.

More must-reads: