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ESPN
Commanders trying to revive run game vs. Seahawks, Lions
In early October, the Washington Commanders capped off their fifth game of the season doing what they had done in most of the first four: run the ball well. It led to a double-digit road win at the Los
Angeles Chargers.
The Commanders, then 3-2, weren’t in bad shape. But the run game hasn’t been the same since. In their first five games, the Commanders were the NFL’s top rushing team. Over the past three weeks, Washington — now 3-5 — ranks 18th.
The upcoming schedule will provide another pair of tests for the ground game. On Sunday, the Commanders will welcome the Seattle Seahawks (5-2) and their top-ranked run defense in yards per game and per carry. Then, Washington will host the Detroit Lions, who rank fifth in yards per game allowed and 11th in yards per carry allowed.
Seahawks’ second-half priority? Fix the run game
With Sam Darnold (seventh in QBR at 72.9) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (NFL-high 819 receiving yards) powering a potent passing game, the Seahawks’ offense is eighth in scoring at 25.6 points per game despite their ineffective run game. Getting it going was an area of focus as Macdonald and his staff self-scouted over the bye.
Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for 115 of the Seahawks’ 118 rushing yards in their win over the Houston Texans on Monday night, marking the third time in the past four games that Seattle reached triple digits.
That it took 29 attempts by their running backs against Houston was equally telling.
Through eight weeks, no team has a higher designed rush rate than the Seahawks at 47.9%. But only one team has a lower yards-per-carry average than their 3.7.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels to return vs. Seahawks on Sunday night
After missing a week to recover from a hamstring injury, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start on Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks.
Daniels was injured in the third quarter of Washington’s Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but testing showed the injury was minor and wouldn’t keep him out for an extended period. Daniels was on the sideline for the Commanders’ subsequent loss, to the Chiefs last Monday night, but he practiced fully this week with the expectation he would return Sunday.
Daniels previously missed two games because of a knee sprain he suffered in the team’s Week 2 loss in Green Bay. Marcus Mariota has started all three games Daniels missed.
NFL.com
NFL Week 9 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup analysis for every game
Why Tom picked the Seahawks: Because, for the moment, fortune is smiling on the team that paid a top-of-the-market price for a rehabilitated QB and giving a big ol’ frowny face to the team that reached the NFC title game last season. Which brings me to this recent quote from Bobby Wagner: “Last year was last year — the things that happened last year are gone.”
Is it a too-pat answer to the question posed by this ESPN.com article exploring what’s gone screwy for Wagner’s Commanders? Sure. But he ain’t wrong! Last year really was last year.
Unlike in 2024, things are mostly clicking for the mostly healthy Seahawks. And the Commanders are dealing with the kinds of injuries they largely avoided during Jayden Daniels’ magical rookie season — including to Daniels himself. The QB’s return — which seems likely at this point — will basically determine Washington’s viability, especially with Terry McLaurin sidelined again. (EDITOR’S UPDATE: Daniels was listed as a full practice participant and did not receive an injury designation on Friday’s injury report.) The Seahawks still haven’t had their legitimacy as contenders fully tested, but the Commanders are so undermanned, I don’t think we’re going to get that moment of truth on Sunday night, even [though] Daniels is back out there.
Commanders.com
3 keys to Commanders vs. Seahawks
2. Keep up the defensive energy for four quarters.
The Commanders came out with a high level of energy against the Kansas City Chiefs, which Patrick Mahomes admitted after the game caught him and his offense off guard. It led them to force two turnovers, equaling their yearly total in one quarter. They couldn’t maintain that energy in the second half, though, which allowed the Chiefs to score 21 unanswered points.
Although the Seahawks’ offense hasn’t been as efficient as that of the Chiefs, the Commanders cannot afford to have an uneven performance against them. They’re tied for fifth in points per game and score touchdowns on 68% of their trips to the red zone. They’re third in yards per play, thanks in part to Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the league in receiving yards and Sam Darnold ranking seventh in QBR.
The hope is that the Commanders’ defense can play the way it did in the first half of the Chiefs game for the entire night against the Seahawks. The Chiefs had 156 total yards in the first half, while Mahomes was limited to eight completions for 89 yards on 15 attempts. The Commanders only sacked Mahomes once, but they were consistently in the quarterback’s face and forced him to make errant throws.
Like the offense establishing a solid ground attack, it will be difficult to get pressure on Darnold while working against an offensive line that has given up the second-fewest sacks in the league. But the Commanders aren’t in a position where they can settle with letting Darnold work unbothered in the backfield. They must find a way to disrupt him and stay consistent with it for the entire night.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders need to prove themselves
Looking back at the Commanders’ schedule so far, the only quality win came against the Los Angeles Chargers, and they need to continue to add quality wins to their record. We saw the potential of the defense in the first half against the Chiefs, but then they reverted to their old ways in the second half.
The Seahawks have been one of the better teams this season, and have a high-powered offense led by the league’s top receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which doesn’t bode well for the Commanders’ defense. It will take a full team effort to come away with a win and earn the right to keep fighting for a playoff spot. A loss, however, will lead to shifting focus on how to repair the roster with the playoffs well out of reach.
The Commanders are 2-1 at home this season, and play drastically better when they aren’t on the road. Maybe the Super Bowl Era uniforms this week will give them an extra boost to get back to their winning ways.
Commanders Wire
Latest defensive line injury could mean more trouble for the Commanders
[I]t wasn’t enough that the Commanders have lost their top three defensive ends to the injured reserve list: Deatrich Wise, Dorance Armstrong, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Then last week, Daron Payne rested throughout practice week, rehabbing his injured toe. Payne, to his credit, was out there on Monday night in the loss to the Chiefs.
But then, during the Chiefs’ game, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw went down, visibly in pain. Kinlaw had injured his shoulder, was knocked out of the game, and remained on the sideline for the remainder of the game. Head coach Dan Quinn later stated that Kinlaw had asked to re-enter, but the decision was made to keep him out.
Then there is defensive tackle Johnny Newton. During the Chiefs’ game, Newton injured his ankle. Going into Friday, Newton has been on the side getting in some work but has not yet been able to practice with the team. Thus, it is probable that Newton will not play on Sunday against the Seahawks. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt did express concern about Newton being able to go on Sunday.
Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders aren’t good enough to be buyers. They shouldn’t sell, either.
Ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, Washington appears to be a team that will likely stand pat rather than make significant moves.
Taking a big-picture view of the state of the franchise, the trade deadline option that feels most sensible is standing pat.
The Commanders’ current playoff outlook is grim, and it’ll get worse with a loss to the favored Seahawks. Washington hosts another tough opponent in the Detroit Lions (5-2) on Nov. 9, so falling to 3-7 is plausible. At that point, the Commanders would essentially have to run the table to make the postseason.
But punting on the season would run counter to everything Peters and Quinn have said they’re about. Teams should be realistic, but messaging and perception matters when it comes to instilling team culture.
The experience of trying to push through an adverse situation could prove valuable to building the Commanders’ foundation. The front office signaling it doesn’t believe they’re capable could have the opposite effect.
Pro Football Focus (premium content)
NFL Separation Report: Best receivers at beating coverage to get open
What is Separation Percentage?
Separation percentage measures how often a receiver beats the coverage to get open rather than benefiting from a defense more focused on limiting yards after the catch or stopping them short of the first down.
This metric is not limited to just targeted routes. Instead, it looks at all routes run where a defense tries to prevent a receiver from getting open.
Podcasts & videos
Zach Ertz Makes NFL HISTORY + Alfred Morris’ EMOTIONAL Journey | Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
This week’s Next Man Up features one of the best Tight Ends to ever do it, Zach Ertz! Ertz made history last weekend with his 800th career catch! We break down that moment and look ahead to our Sunday Night Football matchup against the Seahawks.
And former Washington RB Alfred Morris pulls up to the show to share his emotional journey of being a retired NFL player. Morris’ story is heavy but can help a lot of people going through tough changes in life.
Commanders’ Jacob Martin: “To Me, I Take Everything Personal” | The Player’s Club
NFC East links
Sports Illustrated
Disney Announces Movie Theme for Eagles-Chargers ‘Monday Night Football’ Altcast
Disney will produce an animated broadcast for Philadelphia and Los Angeles’s Dec. 8 game themed around Monsters, Inc., it announced in a Monday evening release. Billed as Monsters Funday Football, the production will utilize Next Gen Stats, Hawk-Eye, and other technologies.
The broadcast follows previous productions centered around the worlds of Toy Story and The Simpsons.
“Each iteration of Funday Football has pushed the boundary of what’s possible in sports technology. By blending real-time NFL data and tracking with cutting-edge animation, we’re transforming the way fans experience an NFL game,” Michael Szykowny, ESPN’s vice president of graphics innovation, said in a statement.
Monsters, Inc., released in 2001, is one of Pixar’s most celebrated films; it was the third-highest grossing film of its release year and received four Academy Award nominations.
The broadcast is scheduled to air on the Disney Channel, Disney XD and ESPN2, while also streaming on Disney+, ESPN’s app, and NFL+.
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys analytics roundup: Welcome back to last place, defense
Can inconsistency be consistent? The Cowboys are certainly trying to find that out. They still have yet to win (or lose) consecutive games this season after getting blown out by the Broncos in Denver. The loss seemed to obliterate any and all optimism that was growing, as has been the case every other week this season.
As always, we look to the emotionless data to help offer guidance on this confusing, confounding, and contradictory Cowboys team.
[T]his chart really lays the Cowboys’ problems bare. The defense is what’s keeping them from being one of the best teams in the league, but it’s not just bad, it’s like an anchor tied around Dak Prescott’s neck.
The Cowboys dropped all the way from ninth in total team efficiency to 20th. That’s the biggest movement of the week, by far. A lot of that had to do with the defense, which had been on the upswing, getting ripped apart by a Broncos offense that was gravitating towards the lower half of the league in efficiency coming into the game.
Something that also bears mentioning: special teams is an issue. Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin cover up a lot, but Nick Sorensen’s unit is wildly undisciplined. Dallas is just one flag away from being the most penalized special teams group in the league, and they’re dead last in hidden points, a measurement that estimates points of field position gained by the opponent. This unit is a ticking time bomb right now.
Niners Nation
5 Questions with Big Blue View: Could the 49ers be facing a future teammate in Week 9?
The Giants are 2-6, but there seems to be a lot more optimism around the team with Jaxson Dart’s emergence. Is Brian Daboll coaching for his job or have he and Joe Schoen bought themselves some time?
Daboll is undoubtedly coaching for his job. Giants’ ownership does not WANT to make a change. They put Daniel Jones through three head coaches, two GMs and probably a half-dozen offensive coordinators in his time with the Giants. They want to avoid doing that to Jaxson Dart if at all possible.
It’s clear that Dart and Daboll have a great relationship. Daboll is the guy who pushed for Dart. Still, you have to win games. Since the start of 2023 the Giants are 11-31 with Daboll as head coach, and they continue to find embarrassing ways to lose games. That has to change over the next few weeks, or the Giants will find someone else.
Given their issues rushing the passer, there’s intrigue among the 49ers’ fanbase around a potential trade for a Giants defensive lineman. Do you see New York trading any of their players on the defensive front?
I do not. There has been a lot of discussion about Kayvon Thibodeaux, but I know the Giants don’t want to trade him. He was the first player GM Joe Schoen drafted. To trade Thibodeaux, the Giants would probably have to receive an offer of multiple picks that included at least a second-rounder. I don’t see anybody doing that.
Upcoming opponent
Field Gulls
Behind Seahawks enemy lines, Week 9 preview: The keys to Seahawks vs. Commanders
The Commanders are likely only rivaled by the Las Vegas Raiders for the team with the most former Seahawks players.
[A] point to pay attention to is the no-huddle. The Saints did this quite a bit and managed to catch the Seahawks out of position at times. It’s a way to try and counter Mike Macdonald’s complex play calls and different formations. Since that game against the Saints was decided quickly by the Seahawks, this wasn’t highlighted. However, since the Commanders’ offense is much more organized, this could be a factor. According to TruMediaSports, the Commanders executed 301 (out of 466) plays without a huddle formation this season—182 more than any other team.
The Chiefs showed how to exploit [Washington’s] defense. They stretched horizontally. Whether with outside runs to exploit the linebackers, or creating sets to put a wide receiver or tight end attacking the linebackers’ backs. With these concepts of outside zone, wide zone, and toss, Kubiak will have Ken Walker at his disposal, who is the best running back we have in this concept and has a good chance of returning to his good numbers.
I’ve been saying for a while that the offensive line can “turn the key” and fit into the running game. This game is the opportunity for that.
If the defensive line continues its good run, the path to victory becomes more feasible. IF, and a big IF, the offense doesn’t make big mistakes. Against the Texans there were two interceptions and two fumbles, while the Commanders intercepted the Chiefs twice (doubling their number of INTs this season) and also forced two fumbles (but didn’t recover).
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
QB Purdy could be available, but 49ers to start Jones vs. Giants
For the fifth consecutive week, Mac Jones will start at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. But Brock Purdy is closer to a return from his right big toe injury.
While coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Friday that Jones will start against the New York Giants this week, Purdy is listed as questionable. It’s the first time since his Week 4 start against Jacksonville that Purdy hasn’t been ruled out before that week’s game.
“It means he’s got a chance to be available,” Shanahan said. “Mac is going to be starting.”
ESPN
Chris Grier out as Dolphins GM; Mike McDaniel to finish season
Chris Grier is out as Miami Dolphins general manager the team announced Friday, but head coach Mike McDaniel will keep his position through at least the regular season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Dolphins announced that the move was a mutual decision between Grier and the organization Friday morning, less than 24 hours after Miami fell to 2-7 with a 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
“As I assessed the state of the team and in my discussions with Chris, it became clear to both of us that change could not wait. We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now. Champ Kelly will serve as interim general manager effective immediately, and we will begin our search process for a new general manager. I want to thank Champ for stepping up and his commitment to the Dolphins success this season. There is a lot of football left to play and we all need to fight even harder.”
During Grier’s tenure — he has been with the organization since 2000, and general manager since 2016 — the Dolphins recorded five winning seasons and three playoff appearances but failed to win a postseason game. Miami’s 25-year playoff win drought is the longest active streak in the NFL.
A team source told ESPN the Dolphins aren’t interested in trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle — but that was before Grier’s dismissal. Linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb have consistently been named as potential trade targets come next week’s deadline.
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
Can J.J. McCarthy redeem the Vikings’ decisions? If not, the fallout could get messy
Since March of 2024, when Cousins left Minnesota to sign a four-year, $180-million deal with the Atlanta Falcons at the start of free agency, the Vikings have ripped through a slew of quarterbacking scenarios that involve some of the NFL’s most productive passers of the moment. In less than a year, the Vikes tried to trade up for Drake Maye, enjoyed a season of Sam Darnold’s renaissance, spurred Daniel Jones’ revival and pondered a high-profile overture from Aaron Rodgers.
All of those QBs are playing at a high level for teams with winning records.
The Vikings (3-4), a team ostensibly built to win now, are still struggling to identify their triggerman of the present and future.
If, as Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, Minnesota is in danger of becoming the NFL’s Exhibit A.
When you lead the league in cash spending ($343 million in 2025) and have already lost more games before Halloween than you did in the entire 2024 regular season, there will be plenty of second-guessing, both from inside and outside the franchise’s state-of-the-art training facility.
Knowing what they know now, if the Vikings’ powerbrokers (owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell) could request a do-over, they might well pursue a different strategy at the sport’s most important position.
Instead, as all of us must, the last-place Vikings will live in the moment. And beginning with Sunday’s showdown with the 5-2 Lions at Ford Field, they’ll be focused on what is essentially a 10-game referendum on McCarthy’s status.
If the young quarterback shines, as he did during a transcendent fourth quarter on the first Monday night of the season, he’ll have a firm grip on the job that was handed to him last spring, and the Vikings will continue to build around him.
Should McCarthy struggle, as he did in a Week 2 defeat to the Falcons, the organization will surely explore viable alternatives at season’s end.
And if McCarthy gets hurt — again — to garner an “incomplete” grade and prevent a more comprehensive evaluation? Given the prevailing questions about his durability, that will be an answer unto itself
bringing back Darnold was problematic. He and McCarthy did not forge an especially close relationship during their time together, and it would have been hard to envision the untested youngster winning a fair competition. The vibe didn’t seem right for such an arrangement.
Besides, the Vikings had a backup plan.
That plan was [Daniel] Jones.
O’Connell pitched him hard on the idea of returning in 2025, insisting that he’d be given a chance to compete with McCarthy.
Free agency was fast and furious, and the Vikings lost the race. After Darnold agreed to terms with the Seahawks last March, O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah felt confident that Jones would sign with Minnesota. The next day, however, Jones surprised them by agreeing to a one-year, $14-million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, rejecting a slightly bigger offer from the Vikings that also included more guaranteed money.
The Vikings’ projected No. 2 quarterback — former Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell, acquired in an April trade with the Seahawks — had a horrible training camp and was flipped to the Philadelphia Eagles in August. (He’s currently a third-stringer in Philly.)
To replace Howell, the Vikings signed 32-year-old Carson Wentz, who joined his sixth team since 2020. With little time to absorb O’Connell’s offense, Wentz, who replaced the injured McCarthy after Week 2, ran a hybrid scheme that included some plays and concepts with which he was already familiar. After winning two of five starts, and playing through a painful torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder suffered in an Oct. 5 victory over the Cleveland Browns in London, Wentz was placed on injured reserve Monday.
That leaves undrafted rookie Max Brosmer as McCarthy’s backup.
