Colts CB Xavien Howard reveals ease of forcing Tua Tagovailoa into 'panic mode' after 33-8 win over Dolphins
The Indianapolis Colts started the season strong with a 33-8 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. But for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, it was a pretty dismal start to the year, with two interceptions and only one scoring play.
Colts cornerback Xavien Howard, who spent eight seasons with the Dolphins before signing with Indianapolis this offseason, told reporters on Monday that it was relatively easy to shut down Tagovailoa.
"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," Howard said, via ESPN's Stephen Holder.
Former Dolphins CB Xavien Howard, to Colts reporters just now, on Tua:
- Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) September 8, 2025
"We knew... 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."
Tagovailoa's performance left a lot to be desired: The sixth-year quarterback went 14-for-23 for 114 yards and one touchdown, which was scored late in the fourth quarter, finally putting Miami on the board.
The first of Tagovailoa's two interceptions happened on the Dolphins' opening drive. The remaining drives went, in order: fumble, punt, interception, turnover on downs, touchdown, end of regulation.
Meanwhile, Howard is getting his first season in a Colts uniform underway after a long career with the Dolphins, and a break for the entirety of 2024. The cornerback was drafted by Miami in the second round of the 2016 draft, staying with the team until he was released in 2023. Howard and Tagovailoa overlapped for four of those years.
The Dolphins return home in Week 2 with a chance to redeem themselves against the New England Patriots, while the Colts stay home to face the Denver Broncos.