Marcus Mariota will be back in the spotlight for Week 8’s “Monday Night Football” matchup — a game that features two teams headed in completely different directions. The Kansas City Chiefs, winners of four of their last five, look like they’ve regained their stride behind Patrick Mahomes and a recharged offense. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders have dropped two of their last three and are dealing with key injuries as they prepare for one of the toughest stretches of their season.
Marcus Mariota Leads Commanders Again as Jayden Daniels Sits
The Commanders’ quarterback situation remains uncertain as rookie Jayden Daniels misses his third straight game with a hamstring injury. That means Mariota is back under center, and so far, he’s proven to be a capable fill-in.
Washington’s offense has actually produced more points with Mariota — averaging 34.0 points in his two starts compared to 22.4 under Daniels, according to NFL.com. The veteran quarterback has thrown for 426 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions while adding 94 rushing yards and one score on just 10 carries.
Mariota will also benefit from having his top weapons back. Both Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are expected to play, giving Washington a better chance to move the ball.
Chiefs’ Offense Looks Dangerous Again
It might feel redundant to ask if the Chiefs are “back,” but after an uneven start to 2025, they appear to have regained their championship form. Kansas City hasn’t missed an AFC Championship Game in seven seasons with Mahomes as its starter, and fans are starting to remember why.
Since wide receiver Xavier Worthy returned from injury in Week 4, the Chiefs have ranked near the top of nearly every offensive category. According to NFL Research, they’re third in points per game (31.5), first in points per drive (3.3), and averaging 411.8 yards per game. Mahomes has been locked in, completing 71.3 percent of his passes for 282.8 yards per game with an 11-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Rashee Rice’s return has also boosted the passing attack. Despite playing just 39% of the offensive snaps last week, he caught seven passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. If the Chiefs can continue this pace, they’ll be nearly impossible to stop — especially for a Commanders defense that’s giving up 401.6 yards per game, the most in the NFL.
Commanders’ Running Game Could Be the X-Factor
If the Commanders want to keep this game close, they’ll need to control the clock with their ground game. Washington entered Week 8 leading the NFL with 5.4 yards per carry. Much of that success came from Daniels’ mobility, but the team still has the pieces to challenge Kansas City’s 15th-ranked run defense.
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt must find his early-season form. After averaging 6.6 yards per carry through Week 5, he’s dropped to just 3.1 over the past two games. With 14.6 carries per game recently, he’ll again shoulder the load with help from Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols.
If Washington can find running lanes and keep Mahomes off the field, they could make things interesting. But if the Chiefs’ pass rush — led by George Karlaftis and Chris Jones — has its way, Mariota could be in for a long night.
The Commanders will try to reset against a surging Chiefs team at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and NFL+.
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