Former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard didn’t waste time firing shots after facing his old team for the first time. Now with the Indianapolis Colts, Howard said the game plan against quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was simple, and it worked.
Howard doesn’t hold back on former teammate
“We knew the guy gets the ball out pretty quick,” Howard told reporters after Indy’s 33-8 win. “Once we take away his first read, I feel like it’s panic mode after that. And it showed yesterday.”
Colts rattle Tagovailoa all afternoon
Tagovailoa struggled badly, finishing 14-of-23 for just 114 yards with two interceptions and a fumble. One pick came against rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu, who dropped into coverage and baited him into an easy turnover. Later, nickel corner Kenny Moore II blitzed and forced a strip sack that Howard himself recovered.
The Dolphins didn’t score until the fourth quarter, and Tagovailoa’s QBR of 2.7 was the lowest by a Miami starter since Josh Rosen in 2019. It also marked his seventh game with at least three turnovers since entering the league in 2020.
Howard makes statement against former team
For Howard, the matchup was personal. The two-time NFL interceptions leader admitted he “barely could sleep the night before” facing Miami after being released in 2024. Signed by Indianapolis just weeks ago, he reunited with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and made an immediate impact in his Colts debut.
“I wanted to put that out there,” Howard said. “As a team, we took care of business.”
The Colts’ defense dominated, and Howard’s words ensured the spotlight stayed on Tagovailoa’s rough outing, one that raised big questions about Miami’s offense moving forward.