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The Washington Commanders, who’re with out the injured Jayden Daniels, journey to Kansas Metropolis to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on “Monday Evening Soccer.”
Comply with alongside for the most recent play-by-play, evaluation, reactions and extra from our group of reporters at The Athletic.
Earlier at present, the Commanders dominated out Matt Homosexual (again) and signed Matthew Wright to the apply squad and elevated him for the sport. The group flew Wright out to Kansas Metropolis as a contingency, regardless of by no means beforehand working him out. Wright has made 87.5 p.c of his area targets and has been nails on further factors (95.5 p.c), which is outstanding given his restricted reps at myriad NFL stops. However he’s hit solely 63.3 p.c of his makes an attempt from 50 yards out.
It’s very uncommon for kicker to return aboard simply 5 hours earlier than kickoff and play, so will Washington totally belief its kicking operation? Or may Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury resolve to go for it on fourth down extra usually in opposition to the NFL’s second-best fourth-down protection (28.6 p.c opponent conversion fee)? Neither are nice choices.
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The Commanders are 3-4 with a slew of injured gamers and a protection that has struggled sufficient to immediate the teaching employees to pare again the decision sheet.
A win over the Chiefs tonight could be a heck of a feat, however it will preserve their season alive. A loss right here wouldn’t spell the top for Washington, however it will make its troublesome season that a lot harder down the stretch.
Over the following three posts, I'll element what I’ll be in search of tonight …
The Chiefs’ protection — even after posting a shutout in opposition to the Raiders final week — stays inclined within the run recreation, and that’s much more so this week after the group misplaced defensive deal with Omarr Norman-Lott for the season with an ACL tear. In line with SumerSports, the Chiefs’ protection ranks twenty fifth in anticipated factors added (EPA) on run performs, and that’s an space the place Washington might discover success.
Particularly, the Commanders have been robust at operating the ball outdoors (tenth in EPA per play), which is an space by which the Chiefs haven’t been nice (thirtieth in EPA on outdoors runs). Plans can change rapidly for Chiefs opponents in the event that they fall behind by a number of scores — because the Raiders did final week — however remaining dedicated to the bottom recreation might be a formulation for the Commanders to seek out some offensive success, given each groups’ earlier tendencies.
The Chiefs are with out Professional Bowl proper guard Trey Smith, who suffered a again damage final week. Some excellent news for Okay.C.: Backup Mike Caliendo stuffed in admirably final week, posting the very best Professional Soccer Focus grade of his three-year profession.
This place nonetheless looms as a query mark given Caliendo’s efficiency final season. The undrafted free agent grew to become a 2024 midseason starter at left guard after the Chiefs did an offensive line shuffle a yr in the past, and although he had some brilliant moments, Caliendo was additionally picked on throughout Tremendous Bowl LIX when the Philadelphia Eagles’ line of defense dominated the Chiefs. If the Commanders had been trying to assault one potential weak spot on an ascending Chiefs offense, this might be it.
The Chiefs have been one of the best group within the NFL this season at avoiding turnovers, as they’ve had simply two giveaways via their first seven video games. Is that as a result of Okay.C. has been good, or fortunate? The sincere reply might be a little bit of each.
The Chiefs’ offense has fumbled seven instances this season however, remarkably, has recovered every time. Years of NFL research inform us “fumble restoration” isn’t a talent {that a} group can management, in order that’s one thing that might stability out because the season goes on.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, in the meantime, has simply two interceptions, although he’s thrown some harmful passes these days, together with a pair in opposition to the Raiders final week that might’ve been picked off.
The Commanders’ greatest hope at hanging on this recreation as a substantial underdog is to create turnovers, so we’ll see if the Chiefs do a greater job than every week in the past at preserving the ball safe.
Coming into Week 8, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had been permitting the third-fewest factors within the league at simply 17.7 factors per recreation.
Holding the Raiders scoreless final week definitely helped that common, limiting Las Vegas to 95 yards of whole offense.
Washington’s offense can have its work reduce out for it in opposition to this robust unit.
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Coming off his worst statistical season, Patrick Mahomes has bounced again in a significant approach to begin this marketing campaign. Listed here are your views on the Chiefs’ quarterback:
The Chiefs are not any stranger to Deebo Samuel, dealing with him twice within the Tremendous Bowl. He was held in examine in each situations.
In Tremendous Bowl LIV, he caught 5 passes for 39 yards, and in Tremendous Bowl LVIII, he caught simply 3-of-11 targets for 33 yards.
Marcus Mariota’s final begin in opposition to the Chiefs got here through the 2017 postseason when he was the quarterback of the Tennessee Titans.
Dealing with Kansas Metropolis within the AFC Wild Card spherical, Mariota led his group into Arrowhead and walked away with the win, throwing for 205 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
The Chiefs’ inactive checklist for tonight's recreation makes one roster transfer official: Professional Bowl proper guard Trey Smith is not going to play due to a again damage. Smith, who left halfway via final week’s recreation with again spasms, didn’t take part in apply all week and was listed as “uncertain” on Saturday's damage report. Mike Caliendo will take Smith’s place at proper guard, and although he had certainly one of his greatest professional video games final week, he was additionally inconsistent a season in the past whereas serving because the group’s beginning left guard for the again half of the season.
Additionally, for a 3rd consecutive recreation, rookie left deal with Josh Simmons can be out whereas away from the group for a household matter. Offseason free-agent signing Jaylon Moore will fill in his spot on the left aspect of the road.
DL Daron Payne is energetic. So is OL Brandon Coleman, for the primary time since Week 2.
Washington's inactive gamers:
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Over the last two weeks, the Washington Commanders’ protection has not been in a position to cease the run, which might present a possibility for the Chiefs’ operating recreation to get going.
In Week 7, Javonte Williams gashed Washington for 119 yards and a landing on 19 carries, every week after D'Andre Swift rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries.
Total, the Commanders are permitting 126 yards per recreation on the bottom.
Unfold: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (-12.5)
Jayden Daniels is out for the Commanders, and Marcus Mariota is in, and this line spiked one other two factors Wednesday. In the meantime, everybody loves the Chiefs once more. All of their receivers are again, and Patrick Mahomes made the Raiders look foolish earlier than taking the fourth quarter off final week. Isn’t it attainable the Chiefs look forward to the Payments subsequent week and neglect Mariota was the final quarterback to beat them in a playoff recreation that wasn’t the AFC Championship or the Tremendous Bowl? Look it up. 2017. Give me the 12.5 factors.
The choose: Commanders
Travis Kelce is coming off certainly one of his quietest video games of the season, however even at 36 years previous, he stays a dependable security valve for Patrick Mahomes.
Kelce caught simply three passes for 54 yards in Week 7, however total, he has tallied 31 receptions for 375 and a pair of touchdowns.
Rashee Rice’s return might imply large issues for the veteran tight finish, absorbing a few of the heavy protection Kelce has confronted.
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Even at 34 years previous, Zach Ertz continues to offer high quality manufacturing and consistency on the tight finish spot for Washington.
Showing in all seven video games for the Commanders, the veteran has caught 23 passes for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns, persevering with to be a dependable crimson zone goal.
In Week 7 in opposition to Dallas, Ertz caught three passes for 37 yards and a landing.
Speak about a season debut …
After serving a six-game suspension, Rashee Rice returned to the lineup and wasted little time re-introducing himself to the top zone.
The 25-year-old is projected to be the Chiefs’ go-to goal the remainder of the season ,and he confirmed why, catching seven passes on 10 targets, totaling 42 yards and two touchdowns.
To this point, Rice has introduced a dynamic that completes the Chiefs’ offense.
Terry McLaurin is again within the lineup after lacking the Commanders’ earlier 4 video games with a quad damage. This got here after a protracted contract negotiation through the offseason and a quiet first three video games of the season, totaling 10 catches for 149 yards.
The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala has extra on Washington’s veteran wideout under.
GO FURTHER
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin opens up about his damage and up-and-down yr
