The storms keep gathering above the Washington Commanders during a season that promised much but is rapidly descending into complete chaos. Injuries, poor performances, and a brutal schedule have been too much to handle overall. And for fans, things might get worse before they get better.
Things don't get any easier for the Commanders this weekend. Head coach Dan Quinn's squad welcomes the Detroit Lions to Northwest Stadium, a clash that instantly brings back memories of their playoff encounter from the previous campaign.
The Commanders were heavy underdogs on the road in Detroit, despite the Lions' defense being decimated by health problems. A phenomenal performance saw Washington come away with an upset win, surging them to the NFC Championship game while one of the Super Bowl favorites went home.
Jared Goff said the quiet part out loud about Lions' motivation against Commanders
This stung everyone in Detroit. And based on quarterback Jared Goff's comments heading into their Week 10 rematch with Washington, there is high motivation to right this wrong and give the Commanders a taste of their own medicine.
"That’s definitely a part of it, absolutely. I think more than that, we want to get off of a losing streak here and get a ‘W.’ Certainly, you’re thinking about that, but I think it’s nine games ago now. So yeah, we’re trying to get a win this year and maybe use that as a little added motivation if we need it."
Jared Goff via Pro Football Talk
If fans weren't already fearing the worst, they should be now.
The Lions have no shortage of bulletin board material for this one. They saw their dreams slip away at the hands of Washington last season, and they'll be striving with everything to put the Commanders firmly in their place. It's also worth remembering that head coach Dan Campbell's team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to the Minnesota Vikings in its last outing.
To say the cards are stacked against Washington would be an understatement. They are desperately short of morale and missing some influential players due to injury. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey added their names to the list this week, which has been the tale of this sorry season.
That won't matter to the Lions. They will have last season's playoff failure firmly at the forefront of their minds. And they will be looking to pile more misery on the Commanders, showing absolutely no mercy whatsoever.
Commanders fans should buckle up; this could be a bumpy ride.