There were two versions of the Washington Commanders on the field in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. For the first two quarters, the team looked sharp — organized, physical, and capable of pulling off an upset. But by the second half, all the progress unraveled.
Commanders Start Strong But Collapse Late Against Chiefs
The Commanders started strong, with Marcus Mariota stepping in for injured starter Jayden Daniels and running the offense with confidence. But the early momentum didn’t lead to points. Three promising drives ended in disappointment — one on a tipped interception and two others on fourth-down attempts that came up just short.
Head coach Dan Quinn’s defense, meanwhile, delivered its best half of the season. Marshon Lattimore and Bobby Wagner each recorded interceptions, and the unit doubled its season total for takeaways before halftime. Washington forced Patrick Mahomes into uncomfortable spots early, but the Chiefs’ quarterback ultimately found his rhythm.
By the second half, Kansas City looked like its old self. Mahomes threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns on 25 completions, leading three consecutive scoring drives of 80, 75, and 94 yards. The Commanders’ defense, which looked rejuvenated early, surrendered 271 yards and 21 points after halftime.
“We left a lot of opportunities on the field,” Quinn told reporters after the game, via the team’s official website. “In the second half, we just didn’t execute the way we needed to. You can’t give that team extra chances.”
Injuries and Uncertainty Continue to Plague Washington
To make matters worse, the Commanders suffered more injuries during the loss. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil exited with a hamstring injury, wide receiver Terry McLaurin re-aggravated his quad, and defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw hurt his shoulder. McLaurin, who scored Washington’s only touchdown, sat out most of the fourth quarter.
The loss left the Commanders at 3-5, with a tough stretch ahead that includes matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Quinn acknowledged the frustration of losing close battles but said his team must “stay resilient” and “finish what they start.”
The bigger question now surrounds the health of Daniels, who’s missed three games with knee and hamstring issues. On “The Pat McAfee Show,” NFL insider Adam Schefter cast doubt on his Week 9 availability. “I just think a guy that’s had a knee injury and a hamstring injury… you’ve got to be really careful with that,” Schefter said. “I won’t be surprised if we don’t see Jayden again on Sunday night.”
If Daniels remains sidelined, Mariota is expected to start again when Washington hosts the Seahawks — a team currently 5-2 and ranked first in run defense. The Commanders will look to rebound at home, where they’ve gone 2-1 this season.
As the Commanders prepare for Week 9, Quinn’s message remains clear: stay aggressive and eliminate the self-inflicted mistakes that have cost them multiple winnable games. “We know what we’re capable of,” he said. “It’s about putting it together from start to finish.”
The Washington Commanders will play “Sunday Night Football” against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium on November 2 at 8:20 pm.
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