When a workforce has a breakout season, particularly with a historic rookie star, the idea is the trajectory will stay upward for years.
It’s hardly ever that simple. The Washington Commanders had a dream season in 2024. Jayden Daniels had arguably the very best rookie season for a quarterback in NFL historical past. The Commanders went 12-5 with a collection of zany and thrilling wins, then made a postseason run to the NFC championship recreation. But that wasn’t sustainable.
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Washington is 3-5, matching its loss complete from final season. The Commanders fought onerous for a half towards the Kansas City Chiefs, however in the second half it was clear the 2 groups weren’t on the identical airplane. Washington didn’t have Daniels, who was out with a hamstring harm, and was overwhelmed in the second half with backup QB Marcus Mariota beginning in a 28-7 loss.
Patrick Mahomes threw three second-half touchdowns and the Chiefs’ protection clamped down after halftime, nevertheless it didn’t appear to be the Chiefs performed their greatest recreation or something shut. They didn’t must.
This season has already been extra of a wrestle for the Commanders than all of final season was. Daniels’ accidents haven’t helped. Mostly, Washington is simply discovering out it’s onerous to repeat a magical season.
Commanders made issues curiosity in first half
After a Sunday stuffed with favorites blowing out underdogs, Monday evening had an surprising begin.
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The Chiefs began very gradual. Mahomes, who had simply two interceptions all season earlier than Monday evening, threw two on Kansas City’s first two possessions. The Commanders moved the ball however couldn’t get something out of it early, turning it over on downs twice and throwing an interception of their very own.
The Chiefs lastly acquired a landing on a 1-yard run, however Washington acquired on the board too. Mariota floated a move to Terry McLaurin in the tip zone, and McLaurin barely stored each toes down as he grabbed it earlier than going out of bounds. The recreation was tied 7-7 at halftime and Washington had largely outplayed Kansas City.
With Daniels out because of harm, the Commanders have been massive underdogs. It didn’t appear like it early on. But identical to final season’s success, what Washington did in the primary half couldn’t be repeated.
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Chiefs draw back
The Commanders have been aggressive for a half, however ultimately not having Daniels in the lineup dragged down the offense.
The Chiefs’ offense began scoring and Washington couldn’t reply. Mahomes hit landing passes to Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice to show the sport into one other Week 8 blowout.
Without Daniels, the Commanders couldn’t sustain. Mariota wasn’t horrible however the Chiefs’ protection all the time got here up with performs on essential downs towards him. The Commanders don’t have the expertise to beat being with out their quarterback.
Washington’s protection has had points and the offense has been inconsistent with Daniels lacking a number of video games. The Commanders are already three video games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East; profitable a division title just isn’t real looking anymore. Getting again in the wild-card race will take some work too in a deep NFC.
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Last season’s playoff run was the most effective issues to occur to Washington’s franchise in a long time. The Commanders face a protracted street to make the playoffs at all this season.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs rolled to a simple win with a giant 2nd half.
Mahomes finishes 25-of-34 for 299 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs.
Kansas City improves to 5-3 after beginning the 12 months 0-2. The Chiefs appear like they’re totally again.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs LB Jack Cochrane picks off Marcus Mariota in the ultimate minute, and that is the cherry on high of a lopsided win for Kansas City.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
It seems Isiah Pacheco is OK, although there isn’t any cause for him to return to this recreation with it properly in hand for the Chiefs.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Chiefs operating again was hit low and is getting his leg seemed at on the sideline after this play.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Washington opts to kick it away on 4th and 9 from its personal 36 regardless of trailing by 3 touchdowns with beneath 7 minutes to play. Interesting determination.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
After throwing two interceptions in the primary half, Mahomes has been on hearth popping out of the locker room.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Patrick Mahomes throws his third TD move of the evening, this one to Rashee Rice, to cap a 94-yard scoring drive. And Kansas City is pulling away in this one.
Chiefs 28, Commanders 7
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Jason Owens
The Commanders could not capitalize on Terry McLaurin’s massive play.
A 3rd-and-10 sack of Marcus Mariota pushed the Commanders out of area aim vary, and they punted on fourth-and-21. Mike Danna, who intercepted Mariota in the primary quarter, got here up with the sack.
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Jason Owens
Terry McLaurin is attempting to maintain the Commanders in this recreation.
In his first recreation again from a quad harm, McLaurin simply made his second sensational sideline catch of the sport. This time, he dove on a third-and-8 deep ball to maneuver the Commanders in to Chiefs territory. Officials dominated it a catch upon assessment. His first sideline seize went for a landing.
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Jason Owens
The Chiefs are actually in management. And Travis Kelce has a brand new spot in the Kansas City report e-book.
Patrick Mahomes capped a 75-yard drive with a 10-yard landing move to Kelce to offer the Chiefs a 21-7 lead late in the third quarter.
The landing was the 83rd of Kelce’s profession, tying him for probably the most in Chiefs historical past with operating again Priest Holmes. And the Commanders are in trouble.
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Jason Owens
The Commanders began at their very own 2-yard line after rookie Jaylin Lane muffed a kickoff return, permitting the ball to roll out of bounds at the 2-yard line.
Washington managed a primary down from there, however no extra, and the Chiefs have the ball again with a 14-7 lead and an opportunity to take management of the sport following a Commanders punt.
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Jason Owens
The Commanders will play the second half with out their beginning left deal with.
Laremy Tunsil tried to return to the primary half with a hamstring harm. But he is been dominated out for the second half.
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Jason Owens
Patrick Mahomes had all day close to midfield, however no open receivers downfield. But Travis Kelce was huge open close to the road of scrimmage for a 38-yard catch-and-run down the correct sideline to place the Chiefs in the purple zone.
Kansas City transformed the play right into a fourth-and-goal landing move from Mahomes to a wide-open Kareem Hunt in the tip zone, Hunt’s second rating of the evening. Kanas City leads 14-7.
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Jason Owens
Kansas City may have the ball first and search for a clear begin to the third quarter after a sloppy first half of soccer.
It’s off to a nasty begin with a holding penalty on the kickoff return.
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Jason Owens
The Commanders have made this a recreation regardless of the absence of injured beginning quarterback Jayden Daniels and will come out of halftime in a 7-7 recreation.
Both groups made a number of errors in a sloppy first quarter to maintain the scoring at a minimal. And the Commanders have an opportunity to tug off an upset thanks in half to robust play from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Commanders
Marcus Mariota: 14 of 17, 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 carries, 22 yards
Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 7 carries, 18 yards
Jeremy Nichols: 3 catches, 52 yards
Terry McLaurin: 1 catch, 11 yards, 1 TDChiefs
Patrick Mahomes; 8 of 15, 89 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs; 3 carries, 31 yards
Isiah Pacheco: 4 carries, 17 yards
Kareem Hunt: 3 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD
Travis Kelce: 4 catches, 51 yards; 1 drop that resulted in INT
Xavier Worthy: 1 catch, 27 yardsCommanders complete yards: 194
Chiefs complete yards: 156Commanders turnovers: 1, plus 2 turnovers on downs
Chiefs turnovers: 2 -
Jason Owens
Well that is surprising. The Commanders have persistently moved the ball towards the Chiefs and have crossed midfield on every possession with backup Marcus Mariota taking part in quarterback.
They solely have seven factors to point out for it due to an interception and two turnovers on downs. But it is adequate for a 7-7 tie at halftime because the Chiefs have battled their very own errors, together with a pair of interceptions thrown by
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Jason Owens
The Commanders have tied the sport.
Officials accurately decided that Terry McLaurin acquired each toes down with possession of the ball in the tip zone on a rainbow move from Marcus Mariota. The Commanders have tied the sport, 7-7 with 58 seconds remaining in the half.
An ideal toe faucet from the veteran receiver. Per ESPN, it is his third toe-tap landing since 2024, tied with Ja’Marr Chase for probably the most in the NFL.
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Jason Owens
Terry McLaurin made what appears like an actual good sideline seize in the tip zone for a landing. But the aspect choose dominated that that he did not get each toes down with possession.
It appears quite a bit like he did, although. We’ll see in the event that they get this proper on replay assessment.
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Jason Owens
Laremy Tunsil is again at left deal with after leaving in the primary quarter with a hamstring harm.
