The Washington Commanders will look to improve to 3-1 for the first time since 2011 in their Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Here are five keys to securing the victory.
1. Keep Kyler Murray in the pocket.
It’s clear after three games that Kyler Murray is fully recovered from his torn ACL that kept him sidelined for most of the 2023. He’s completed 68.6% of his passes, which ranks 12th in the NFL, and is tied for the third most passing touchdowns (5).
Murray’s most dangerous weapons, however, are his legs, not just because he has 161 yards on just 15 carries, but also due to his ability to extend plays in the backfield. The Commanders’ pass-rush must find a way to keep him in the pocket and force Murray to beat them with his arm.
The Commanders continue to be one of the best at winning their matchups on the defensive line and worst at finishing plays, as they’re tied for 28th with four sacks despite being 11th in pass-rush win rate. This has bled into the run defense; while the stats show they’re around the league average in rushing yards per game, they’ve also given up explosive plays between the tackles.
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said that getting too far upfield has led to those explosive runs. If the Commanders don’t fix that, it will play to Murray’s strengths, as one of his biggest runs — a 27-yard scramble against the Los Angeles Rams — was up the middle of the field. But Murray can also use those gaps in rush lanes to buy extra time for his receivers, like he did on his 18-yard touchdown to Elijah Higgins after scrambling for nine seconds.