Sam Howell threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to make up for two turnovers and the Washington Commanders came back to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-16 on Sunday, avoiding what would have been an embarrassing season-opening loss in their first game under new ownership.

In front of a sellout crowd and with several prominent alumni back to celebrate the start of a new era, the Commanders were sloppy with a pair of turnovers and several penalties along the offensive line that allowed Howell to be sacked six times.

Washington's defense eventually took over and made game-changing plays. Montez Sweat strip-sacked Joshua Dobbs early in the fourth quarter to set up Howell's go-ahead 6-yard TD run, and Abdullah Anderson recovered another fumble by Arizona with under five minutes left.

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Howell had a jittery start in his new role as the Commanders' starting quarterback, going 19 of 31 for 202 yards with a 7-yard TD pass to Brian Robinson Jr. and an interception. The second-year pro bounced back from the pick and a fumble late in the second quarter that handed the Cardinals a touchdown, completing four of seven passes after halftime.

Arizona, which is expected to be among the worst teams in the NFL this season, lost Jonathan Gannon's debut as coach. Dobbs, acquired last month in a trade with Cleveland and starting after Gannon refused to name his No. 1 QB leading into the game, was 21 of 33 for 133 yards.

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ALUMNI RETURN

Among the former Washington players who made an appearance for the first game with Josh Harris' group in charge were Hall of Famers John Riggins and Champ Bailey and 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III. Nearly 65,000 fans filled FedEx Field in a party atmosphere, some chanting on the concourse goodbyes to former owner Dan Snyder, and many singing the team's fight song in the stands after touchdowns.

"There's a lot better energy," Griffin said. "The team doesn’t have the distractions. The community is back together."

INJURIES

Cardinals: DL Kevin Strong was attended to early in the second quarter before walking off under his own power. ... TE Zach Ertz played nine months since having surgery to repair a torn ACL. ... OL Kelvin Beachum (hand) was inactive.

Commanders: Howell and RG Sam Cosmi were each evaluated for a concussion and quickly cleared to play. ... Chase Young was inactive because of a neck injury.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Host the New York Giants in their home opener next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the Denver Broncos next Sunday.

During his visit to Vietnam on Sunday, President Biden denied that strengthening ties with Hanoi was part of a broader effort to contain China. 

At a press conference, a reporter noted that China had questioned the sincerity of the Biden administration for wanting diplomatic talks with Beijing. 

"Really what this trip is about, is less about containing China. I don’t want to contain China. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away, and everybody knows what’s going on," Biden said. 

Biden’s comments in Vietnam’s capital came after the president attended the Group of 20 summit in India, which neighbors China and has clashed with Beijing over border territories. The American president came to Hanoi as Vietnam was elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner, underscoring how far the U.S.-Vietnam relationship has evolved since the Vietnam War. 

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The expanded partnership reflects a broader effort across Asia to counter China's influence. Biden has said Vietnam wants to flex a degree of independence, and U.S. companies are seeking an alternative to imports from Chinese factories. He is pursuing possible allies while also trying to soothe tensions with China.

Biden insisted that shoring up ties with China’s neighbors was about having a "stable base" in the Indo-Pacific and not about isolating Beijing. 

"It’s not about isolating China. It’s about making sure the rules of the road – everything from airspace and space in the ocean and the international rules of the road – are abided by," Biden said.

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He acknowledged that China is presently having some economic difficulties, but he ultimately wanted "to see China succeed economically" so long as they play by the rules. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for further comment. 

Biden said he had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while in India, marking the highest-level interaction between U.S. and Chinese officials since Biden and China's president, Xi Jinping, held talks at last year's G20 in Indonesia. Xi skipped the India talks and sent Li in his place.

"We talked about stability. ... It wasn't confrontational at all," Biden said.

Biden went into meetings with Vietnam's leaders after his arrival in the country. He welcomed the new partnership and said he hoped for progress on climate, the economy, and other issues during his 24-hour stop in Hanoi.

Biden called Vietnam "a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community."