It’s going to be a tough challenge for the Washington Commanders against the Kansas City Chiefs in their blockbuster Week 8 clash. Even with some of their top players potentially returning to the lineup, the Commanders face an uphill battle.

Washington enters the game with a 3-4 record, having lost two straight games. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are 4-3 and riding a two-game winning streak, winning four of their last five contests. Complicating matters for Washington is the absence of standout second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, which makes predictions for this game particularly challenging.

### Marcus Mariota’s Passing Outlook

QB Marcus Mariota will likely throw for fewer than 250 yards in this matchup. In his two full games this season, Mariota completed passes for only 156 and 207 yards. Furthermore, the Chiefs boast one of the NFL’s stingiest pass defenses, allowing just 174.6 yards per game — ranking No. 4 overall.

To combat this, the Commanders will need to focus on running the football to move the chains. Expect Washington to run some play-action on early downs to give Mariota chances to find open windows downfield. While Mariota may connect on a few big plays, the ground game will be the key to any offensive success. Ultimately, Washington will not rely solely on Mariota to carry the offense.

### A Difficult Situation for the Commanders

According to the Rich Eisen Show, the outlook without Daniels is bleak. “Dan Quinn just announced it’s Marcus Mariota on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead,” Eisen said. “What an absolute nightmare of a first half of a season it has been for Jayden Daniels, coming off of his unicorn rookie campaign where he was an absolute revelation. A non-stop yards and points and hope machine in the Mid-Atlantic area for the Commanders. And the Daniels-McLaurin connection put on the rocks by a holdout.”

### Chiefs’ Dominance Over the Commanders

These teams have met 11 times, with the Chiefs winning 10 of those matchups. The Commanders have never won on the Chiefs’ home turf. However, there’s a small glimmer of hope: Mariota holds a 2-0 record against Kansas City. One of those wins came during the 2017 playoffs when the Tennessee Titans stunned the Chiefs 22-21 in the Wild Card round, overcoming a 21-3 deficit. That was before Patrick Mahomes arrived in Kansas City, of course.

Still, the Chiefs are favored for good reason. The Commanders remain without key weapons on both offense and defense, while Kansas City has only grown stronger—especially with the return of wide receiver Rashee Rice.

### Patrick Mahomes Playing With Confidence

Kansas City Star quotes Mahomes on his current form: “Yeah, for sure. I think I kind of went through variations of being too aggressive and maybe not aggressive enough. And now I’m just going out there and playing—just having fun.”

He added, “I’m going through my progressions, making reads, and not trying to overthink things. At some points in the last few years, I overthought it, trying to be perfect with every single read. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to go out there and play football.”

Mahomes’ confidence is bolstered by a solid offensive line. “The line is blocking really well,” he said, “which has given me a lot of confidence to just sit in the pocket and go through the reads. Guys are getting open, and that makes my job easier whenever what I anticipate before the play actually happens, and the guys get open. That’s the simple version of it.”

### What to Expect from WR Terry McLaurin

Assuming he plays, WR Terry McLaurin’s return won’t significantly boost the Commanders’ offense. Even healthy earlier this year, McLaurin struggled. His offseason holdout negatively impacted the team, and his ongoing performance has continued to be a liability. Much of Washington’s 3-4 start can be partly attributed to his absence and limited contribution.

With Mariota at quarterback, don’t expect McLaurin to be a major factor. He may catch three or four passes but will likely finish with fewer than 50 yards and no touchdowns.

### Deebo Samuel to Lead Commanders in Receiving

Look for WR Deebo Samuel to be the team’s top receiving threat. Samuel is expected to catch underneath routes and make plays with his legs. He could tally around seven receptions for over 70 yards and is a solid candidate to find the end zone.

Samuel has had a challenging first season with Washington, fueling critics who believed the Commanders acquired a past-his-prime player who wouldn’t produce much. However, he has managed two WR1 finishes this season, proving he can still perform at a high level.

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The Week 8 showdown at Arrowhead Stadium presents a daunting test for the Washington Commanders. With key players out and facing a confident Chiefs squad led by a free-flowing Mahomes, Washington’s best hopes lie in a strong ground game and limiting mistakes. Still, with Mariota’s playoff-winning experience over Kansas City, there remains a spark of hope for an upset.
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