The Commanders have emerged from the New York Giants mess intact. The fallout from the end-of-game blunder that allowed the clock to run out within field-goal range and result in a shocking 27-27 tie was massive on a local and national level.
Washington was the league-wide talking point for all the wrong reasons, as headlines about clock management and Dan Quinn’s job status poured in from every corner. Then came the steady stream of accountability pressers, from Quinn to quarterback Jayden Daniels
to offensive coordinator David Blough.
Through all that time, the important indicators came from the locker room and Commanders practices. Washington’s roster had not lost faith despite being 1-3-1.
Consider the fallout handled well by involved. A triumphant rebound may be another matter. It’s not want-to that’s the problem. It’s the opponent.
The Commanders traveled across the country to play the undefeated San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. They’re 7.5-point underdogs, and appropriately so. There’s a talent disparity at play here that will be difficult to overcome but not impossible.
Washington needs a signature game from Jayden Daniels and vital, positive contributions from these five Commanders:
WR Terry McLaurin
This is a game where Washington’s stars must play like them. That’s why you’ll see so many big names in a list normally reserved for role players needing to step up and diamonds in the rough. If Stefon Diggs (questionable – hamstring) plays, the Commanders will have all the top pass catchers in a game for the first time since Week 1.
That’s a huge asset to Daniels, who likes to spread the ball around. In big moments, though, he’ll turn to McLaurin. Terry’s got to be clutch and steadily productive in this game, showing doubters he can still produce at an elite level and in big moments. That’ll be important as the Commanders trying to match the 49ers and eventually beat them down the stretch.
RB Rachaad White
The Commanders will play Monday’s game without Bill Croskey-Merritt (groin) and his 57% running-back carry share. That leaves a committee including Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols’ presumptive activation off injured reserve and Rachaad White. The former feature back has split time the past few seasons, but he’s capable of ramping up activity as a rusher on early downs, and the Commanders need efficient from the veteran in those instances. He’s also a capable receiver out of the backfield. Washington must put all of that to bear against San Francisco to get into third-and-managable situations that have largely eluded them to this point.
S Nick Cross
We’re taking a small leap here assuming that safety Nick Cross is going to play, considering he’s questionable on the Washington injury report. And it’s been previously said he needs medical clearance to play again after a Week 2 injury that required hospitalization. He hasn’t received it before, but that news came with the injury report.
It didn’t in this case, and he traveled across the country. We’re placing a (safe) bet he’s available. That would be massive. No exaggeration. Cross is a dynamic playmaker in the box and, at times, playing deep. In my opinion, he allows Daronte Jones’ defense run as it should, bringing the intensity level up with a chess piece capable of moving anywhere on the board.
We haven’t seen much of Cross to this point, with him out since Week 2. That glimpse offered a belief that he can be a game changer, and his presence will make this defense way better in all facets and help a secondary that’s (finally) starting to get healthy.
EDGE Odafe Oweh
K’Lavon Chassion is Washington’s top pass rusher this season by every metric. Odafe Oweh was paid to be that guy. While he’s off to a solid start, we’re at a point where Washington needs him to be special. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is hard to bring down and San Francisco’s rushing scheme is excellent, but Oweh’s a freak athlete and driven competitor who needs to make plays.
While sacks and force-fumbled and tackles for loss aren’t the only measure of a good edge rusher, Washington needs Oweh to stack those stats while fighting uphill battle to beat the 49ers.
RT Josh Conerly Jr.
Sonny Styles was nearly the selection here, to cap a theme that Washington needs its top talent going strong, especially a coverage eraser like Styles who’s also a thumper in the run game.
Josh Conerly’s importance can’t be ignored, however, especially with his play on the ascent. While his pressure rate’s higher than you’d like, he hasn’t allowed a sack to this point. He has also stood out in the run game at times, and that must be galvanized in this game.
We know guard Sam Cosmi’s a next-level and having a productive partnership with Conerly provides stability on one side at least, and allows OC David Blough to help Brandon Coleman more on the left.
Protection and space in the run game is key. Having Conerly as an assertive piece of that puzzle is vital to consistent offensive success.
