The Washington Commanders are set to take on the Miami Dolphins at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Here are three keys to them getting a win before the bye week.
1. Prevent explosive plays from De'Von Achane.
Achane has been a potent weapon for the Dolphins since he was taken in the third round of the 2023 draft, but the former Texas A&M running back has surged in production this season with 1,105 total yards and nine touchdowns. He gained even more popularity last week, when his 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns fueled the Dolphins to a 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills.
The Commanders have already faced a similar type of weapon in Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who put up 172 total yards and three touchdowns against their defense. Gibbs' versatility was a difficult challenge for the Commanders' defense, which gave up an average of 9.5 yards on Gibbs' 18 touches.
But Gibbs wasn't the only versatile running back who gave Washington problems this season. Bijan Robinson had 181 total yards, including 106 as a receiver, and two scores in the Atlanta Falcons' 34-27 win over the Commanders. It likely isn't possible to completely eliminate Achane as an option, but one of head coach Dan Quinn's biggest challenges as a play caller will be to at least have an answer for Achane.
2. Make the most of their weapons at wider eceiver.
Washington's wide receivers have been hit particularly hard by injuries this season with Terry McLaurin still recovering from his quad injury and Noah Brown on Injured Reserve. Luke McCaffrey is also on IR, likely for the rest of the season, after suffering a broken collarbone against the Seattle Seahawks.
That leaves the Commanders with a group that doesn't look at all like the one they thought they would have during the offseason. Deebo Samuel is their best option, but the position is also filled with the likes of Robbie Chosen, undrafted rookie Jacoby Jones and River Cracraft, who was recently signed to the practice squad.
While the group might not be as renowned as the one the Commanders had in August, Marcus Mariota and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have to make the most of it. There are some reasons for optimism. Chris Moore has had some solid moments earlier in the season, and Chosen looked efficient against the Dallas Cowboys and Lions. Rookie Jaylin Lane has had some rookie moments but also supplied plays like his 41-yard grab against the Lions.
Still, the Commanders don't have many receivers who they can count on to win matchups on their own. Kingsbury will need to call plays to get them open, and Mariota must continue to show accuracy and poise in the pocket. Fortunately for Washington, the Dolphins have allowed a league-high 73.5% completion rate and the fourth highest yards per catch, so there will be opportunities for Washington's wideouts to make plays.
3. Establish a ground game.
The Commanders have tinkered with ways to re-ignite their ground game over the last month with little success. Granted, some of that is because of the injuries at receiver, which has allowed defenses to overcommit to stopping the Commanders on the ground, but relying on the likes of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez remains what the Commanders do best, and they'll need the group to perform to get a win against Miami.
Things should be a bit easier for the Commanders in that regard than they were in previous weeks against the Seahawks and Lions, both of whom rank in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game. The Dolphins, at least in terms of their ranking, are not as formidable, allowing 139.7 yards per contest on the ground and 4.9 yards per attempt. They've given up 10 rushing touchdowns -- tied for the fifth most in the league -- although they have limited teams to less than 100 yards in two of their last three games.
The Commanders should test that with their trio on Sunday. McNichols and Rodriguez have gotten more involved in recent weeks, and both have put up solid numbers when carrying the ball. McNichols averages 7.6 yards per carry on 22 attempts, while Rodriguez is at 4.4 yards per carry. Rodriguez in particular has stood out to the coaches, with Kingsbury saying that he and Rodriguez's teammates know he makes the most out of every touch. Rodriguez got the first carry against the Lions but had just six for the night.
Similar to the passing game, the Commanders must figure out a solution to getting more out of their running backs. Quinn suggested earlier in the season that the Commanders might need to force the issue, even if it means settling for one- or two-yard gains at times. It's possible that strategy will pay off against the Dolphins, who rank 23rd in run-stop win rate.
