4 keys to a Washington Commanders' victory in Week 14 vs. Vikings

The Washington Commanders are preparing to take on the Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 14.

Neither of these teams have had the season that they envisioned, and both teams will be desperate for a win in this one. The Commanders have lost seven games in a row and are sitting at 3-9, while the Vikings have lost four in a row and are 4-8.

The good news for both teams is that they will both welcome their starting quarterbacks back. Jayden Daniels has missed a month with an injury to his non-throwing arm, while J.J. McCarthy missed last week with a concussion. Which return will be more of an impact?

ESPN’s FPI gives both of these teams a 0% chance to make the playoffs, but a win in Week 14 could at least allow for some positive vibes. Let’s identify what the Commanders need to do to escape the Twin Cities with a victory.

Don’t let J.J. McCarthy shine in his return

J.J. McCarthy has not been good for the most part in 2025. The first-year starter did impress in his first start, leading the team to a win over the Chicago Bears, but it’s been rough sledding since then.

In six games, McCarthy has thrown for 929 yards with just six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Michigan product has only completed 54.1% of his passes and has a 57.9 passer rating, which is the worst mark among 38 qualified passers.

The Commanders have struggled on defense, but this cannot be the game that McCarthy looks like a Pro Bowler.

Establish the run game

You can run on the Minnesota Vikings. The team is currently 23rd in opponent rushing yards per game and allows almost 130 yards on average.

The Commanders have struggled to get much going on the ground several times this year, but this could be the matchup where it all clicks. Especially with Daniels returning, it would be nice to have a reliable ground game to take some pressure off. Chris Rodriguez has been better over the last several games, and he has a chance to have a big one on Sunday.

Get pressure on McCarthy

The Vikings have been one of the worst teams in the league in pass protection. Only the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans allow more sacks per game, so the Commanders should be able to get pressure.

Nothing kills a struggling young quarterback’s confidence more than constant pressure. The Commanders need to bring the heat and make McCarthy uncomfortable. The quarterback is also prone to turnovers, which will become evident if he’s under pressure.

Protect Jayden Daniels at all costs

The Vikings allow a ton of sacks, but they also get to opposing quarterbacks often. The Vikings collect 2.6 sacks per game on average and have four players with at least four sacks on the season.

Washington’s offensive line has been mediocre in pass protection, allowing 2.4 sacks per game in 2025. However, the unit has looked much better recently, including against the Broncos last week. Daniels’ ability with his legs will help avoid some sacks, but the team can’t risk Daniels getting hurt again by getting hit a ton. If Daniels has time to throw, good things will happen.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 4 keys to victory vs. Vikings

4 keys to a Washington Commanders’ victory in Week 14 vs. Vikings

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