The Washington Commanders appear in another primetime game this Sunday when they host the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, at 8:20 p.m. EDT.
We’re roughly halfway through the season, and the Commanders are nowhere near where they wanted to be. The Philadelphia Eagles sit safely atop the NFC East, and the Commanders have to start winning games if they want a Wild Card spot. They have a huge opportunity to prove themselves this week against a surging Seahawks team that is fresh off its bye week.
Let’s take a look at three reasons for optimism for the Commanders in Week 9.
Jayden Daniels is back
If you pay attention, you know that Jayden Daniels is not a fan of missing games. He missed two games earlier this season with a knee sprain and missed last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a hamstring injury. However, he is back this week and will start on Sunday night. Daniels’ mobility and deep-ball accuracy give Washington a dynamic edge, especially against Seattle’s zone-heavy defensive scheme. Having him back on the field is a huge morale boost, too.
Home-field advantage
This West Coast team has to travel across the country and through time zones ahead of this game, and that will disrupt anyone’s rhythm and energy. The Commanders are 2-1 at Northwest Stadium, compared to 1-4 on the road, and they have to use this to their advantage. It doesn’t matter that it’s a prime-time game; the time difference and travel will impact the Seahawks. The Commanders must take advantage of that and start fast to keep Seattle on its heels.
Bounce-back opportunity for Washington
Last week, the Chiefs trounced the Commanders on Monday Night Football. Teams historically respond well after national humiliation, especially with a whole week to reset and refocus. Jayden Daniels must find a way to exploit mismatches in the slot against Seattle’s banged-up secondary, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt needs to find the gaps and get down the field. Aside from the Monday night embarrassment, Daniels’ return provides a morale boost that will elevate the team and give them the extra oomph they need to get one in the win column.