If the Washington Commanders want to cause a massive upset in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs with the national NFL audience watching, they'll have to do it without star quarterback Jayden Daniels. That is a body blow, so their response to offset this setback is crucial.
Daniels went down feeling his hamstring during the Dallas Cowboys game. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft sustained a low-grade strain, which isn't expected to keep him out long-term. However, it was serious enough for the coaching staff to keep him out on Monday Night Football.
Marcus Mariota gets the start for the third time this season. He's a capable understudy, and he's been a fantastic mentor to Daniels throughout his transition. Even so, it's a downgrade, and the Chiefs' defense, led by experienced coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, will smell blood in the water.
Commanders must rely on their rushing attack more than ever without Jayden Daniels
A daunting challenge awaits Mariota, especially if Washington's defense cannot keep up with a Kansas City offense that seems to be hitting its stride. It won't be easy, but there are one or two ways that would make his life a lot easier.
There is one above all else.
Run the football — a lot.
The Commanders have the league's second-best rushing attack right now, averaging 148.9 yards per game. Daniels has a lot to do with that, of course, but Kliff Kingsbury needs to rely more on the committee approach that proved so successful earlier in the campaign.
There is no Austin Ekeler to depend upon. Still, the trio of Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is more than capable of setting the tone in pursuit of keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field.
Putting Mariota in more manageable second and third-down situations is the only way Washington is going to stay competitive. Asking him to be anything more than a game manager is foolish, and the creative schematic alignments Spagnuolo likes to use to confuse opposing offenses will only make things more complex in 3rd-and-longs.
The Chiefs' run defense is middle of the pack league-wide. If the Commanders can set the tone, it will open up play-action and keep Kansas City honest. But if things get away from Washington and the game is placed in Mariota's hands, that's when complications will arise.
Nobody expects the Commanders to keep this one close, which could actually work in their favor. Play with freedom. Play with passion. Play with the fire that inspired this franchise to silence all doubters last season. It might not be enough, but it's the minimum requirement.
And that starts by running the football any chance they get.