The Washington Commanders' losing streak hit three in a row after their expected Monday Night Football bludgeoning at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. At 3-5 with the injury list growing by the game, it's hard to see any salvation for this season.
Washington did return its pair of starting wide receivers for the matchup, with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. both suiting up after missing Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. For the former, it was his first action since Week 3 versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
Samuel's only memorable moment was for the wrong reasons — a first-quarter drop that turned into an interception. Still, with Halloween right around the corner, Scary Terry made his presence felt.
Terry McLaurin showcased his value to the Commanders, but was it fleeting?
McLaurin caught three passes for 54 receiving yards and a score, which was a toe-tapping beauty at the end of the first half. He additionally hauled in a diving contested snag along the sidelines in the third quarter, though he re-aggravated his quadriceps injury in the process.
It took some time to get McLaurin involved. He didn't catch a pass until the last play of the Commanders' final drive of the opening half. Washington's offense was humming but had yet to score, due in large part to the Samuel drop-turned-interception and a controversial fourth-down spot on a Zach Ertz grab. Both of those plays likely cost the team at least three points.
Washington had a chance to tie the game heading into the intermission, and Marcus Mariota found McLaurin sprinting across the end zone just in time to secure a ball that looked like it had no chance of being caught in bounds. It was initially ruled incomplete, but reversed upon further review as the two-time Pro Bowler was credited with his first touchdown of 2025.
After review...
Mariota finds Terry McLaurin for the incredible toe-tap TD!
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His final reception of the game was just as impressive. McLaurin managed to contort his body to come down in bounds after making a tough grab on a key third-down play with Washington trailing 14-7.
It all unraveled from there. McLaurin did not return, and the Commanders lost by three scores. However, the fact that he was initially ruled questionable leaves room for optimism that his absence won't be as extended this time, though it's too early to speculate.
The Commanders' season is in dire straits with or without McLaurin, but fans were at least reminded of one comforting reality on Monday night: life is better when No. 17 is on the field.
This is what Washington paid him for.