The Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings face off at 1:00 p.m. EDT this Sunday from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Neither of these teams is having a good season: the Commanders have just three wins, and the Vikings have just four. In their last five games, the Commanders are 0-5, and the Vikings are 1-5, with that one win coming over a month ago on November 2.

There doesn’t seem to be much hope surrounding either team. Both are set to miss the playoffs after having record-setting seasons in 2024, and now they’re contemplating draft placement in 2026. Still, someone has to come away with a win, so let’s take a look at four reasons for optimism as the Commanders face the Vikings in Week 14.

Jayden Daniels is returning to the field

The Commanders have been without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels more often than they’d like this season, but this week they’ll get him back on the field after he suffered a left elbow dislocation against the Seattle Seahawks on November 2. With him back on the field, the Commanders’ offense has its director back on the field, and his dual-threat ability could stress the Vikings’ defense, which has struggled against mobile quarterbacks. He might be rusty at first, but Daniels is ready to go and wants a win as much as anyone else.

Vikings offensive struggles

The Vikings’ offense has struggled this season. Rotating through four quarterbacks hasn’t been helpful in that regard, and even when starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been on the field, he’s been inconsistent. He tends to turn the ball over, especially in an unstable offense.

Minnesota ranks 29th in total offense and 28th in scoring. Over their last four games, the Vikings have scored just 42 points, including being shut out by Seattle. The Commanders’ defense has struggled this season as well, but they could shine against the Vikings this week.

Historical motivation

The Commanders haven’t beaten the Vikings since 2016, and they’ve lost four of the last five meetings between the two teams. They’ve also never won at U.S. Bank Stadium. However, last December, Washington went 4-0, and they’re aiming for a fifth-straight December win for the first time since 2012. Late-season resilience has been a hallmark for this franchise, and they’ll get a chance to showcase that this weekend in Minneapolis.

Special teams edge

The Washington special teams unit has been reliable this season, even with releasing Matt Gay and bringing in Jake Moody and Matthew Wright. Tress Way is as dependable as ever in his 12th season in the league as a punter, all of which have been spent in Washington. This could be a low-scoring matchup, with the over/under at 41.5 points, suggesting special teams execution could swing the game either way. Winning the special teams battle helps with field position and can make or break a team’s chances in any game. The Commanders have a solid special teams unit, and that could very well be what sets them apart from the Vikings on Sunday.