Washington Commanders (2-5-0) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-2-0):
While the Commanders got off to a promising start against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday night, they ultimately dropped their third straight game, 28-7.
Although quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out due to a hamstring injury in Week 7, Washington got two major playmakers back in McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. There were still, however, missed opportunities on drives that were in part the reason for the Commanders' loss. The team went for it on fourth down twice, and both attempts were thwarted by the Chiefs' defense.
The Commanders' defense kept Washington competitive despite a lack of points on the board and seemed to rattle Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Head coach Dan Quinn said the defense would see some changes, and those adjustments were working. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and linebacker Bobby Wagner intercepted Mahomes twice. Personnel changes to the Commanders' defense also saw younger players getting a larger share of snaps: linebacker Jordan Magee played 58 snaps, while rookie cornerback Trey Amos played 68 and safety Tyler Owens played 25.
The Commanders will face off against the Seahawks, who are well-rested and healthy coming off a bye week, Sunday night. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been slinging it for head coach Mike Macdonald, who went into the bye with a 27-19 win over the Texans. Albeit not Darnold's best game of the season with a 54.8% completion rating, Seattle put up 316 all-purpose yards.
Standing out for the Seahawks on offense is wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who had eight receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown against the Texans. He's a threat to the deep ball and can create explosive plays, something the Commanders' defense struggled with in the second half of Monday night's game. In the second half, the Chiefs put together three touchdown drives for a total of 249 yards and 105 of those yards came from just four plays, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby.
Seattle also has a strong ground game headed by running back Kenneth Walker II, who had 66 yards on 17 carries in Week 7, as well Zach Charbonnet, who had 12 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns the same week.
With the Philadelphia Eagles on bye this week, there likely won't be much movement in the NFC East standings. However, a win over the Seahawks would help the Commanders' bid for a return to the playoffs. Washington currently sits at No. 3 in the division and is hoping to break a three-game skid on Sunday.
As the Commanders prepare to host the Seahawks in primetime, let's look at how the rest of the division stands heading into Week 9.
New York Giants (2-6-0) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-3-0):
The Giants lost another offensive star with rookie running back Cam Skattebo sidelined for the rest of the season with a dislocated ankle, fractured fibula and deltoid ligament rupture. The gruesome injury happened in New York's 38-20 loss to Philadelphia, which resulted from an awkward fall after being tackled in the second quarter. Ahead of being carted off the field, Skattebo had three carries for 12 yards and a touchdown. The Giants rushing offense finished with just 68 yards.
The loss of Skattebo combined with the earlier season-ending ACL injury to Malik Nabers leaves rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart with limited offensive weapons. Wideout Wan'Dale Robinson led receivers with three catches for 48 yards. Dart also has wideout Darius Slayton, who combined for three receptions and 44 yards.
New York is taking on an equally injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers team that is also coming off a loss. The 49ers lost linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), defensive end Nick Bosa (ACL) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) are questionable to play, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
In Purdy's six-game absence, backup Mac Jones has led the team to wins in four of six starts. Jones, however, is considered day-to-day with a knee injury he sustained in the 49ers 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 8. With dynamic receivers in tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco's offense has life. McCaffrey had 11 touches (eight rushing, three receiving) for 68 all-purpose yards, while Kittle finished with four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown in his first game back after being activated off Injured Reserve.
The Giants' defense will have to stay focused against the 49ers to keep New York in the game. Against the Eagles, the Giants' defense allowed 427 all-purpose yards and averaged 7.5 yards per play. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had his way through the air to reignite the Eagles' passing game for the second-consecutive week, finishing with a pass completion rating of 75% for 179 yards and four touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-5-0):
The Cowboys’ No. 2 ranked offense came up short against the Denver Broncos, 44-24, who claimed their fifth-straight victory to remain undefeated at home. Since tying Green Bay in Week 4, the Cowboys haven't had any steady streaks alternating between wins and losses. The lack of consistency is something they will aim to set straight against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Despite losing cornerback and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II to a shoulder injury before halftime, the Broncos limited the Cowboys' third-down conversions and forced two interceptions. They made it hard for quarterback Dak Prescott, who was sacked twice and finished with a 61.2% pass completion rating for 188 yards and the two interceptions before being pulled with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter in favor of backup Joe Milton II.
Although the Broncos defense made things hard for the Cowboys to produce offensively, wide receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb made the most of their touches. They combined for 14 receptions and 152 yards, complemented by running back Javonte Williams' 41 yards on 13 carries on the ground. Despite getting the ground game going against the Broncos, the Cowboys are a pass-first offense and that trend will likely continue in facing Arizona’s No. 19-ranked defense. The Cardinals' defense should be less of a challenge on paper for the Cowboys' offense, although Arizona will be rested and ready to go coming off a bye.
In their Week 7 matchup, the Cardinals played close despite losing to the Green Bay Packers 27-23. The Cardinals' defense was efficient on third and fourth downs, stopping 30% and 66.67% of the Packers' conversion attempts, respectively. Despite going up 10-0, the Cardinals' defense let the Packers back into the game and allowed them to score 21 points in the second half to steal the win.
Arizona's offense was stifled as well, which is due in part to the offensive line. Despite the troubling protection, Jacoby Brissett finished with a 69.4% pass completion rating with his top target, tight end Trey McBride, finishing with 10 receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. If Murray is able to go for the Cardinals, it would be a boost for Arizona to get their starting quarterback under center. Murray has never lost at AT&T Stadium with a perfect 9-0 record through high school, college and the NFL.
With other wideout options such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Zay Jones finishing with no less than 58 yards, the Cardinals have a multitude of threats to diversify the pass game. The Cowboys' pass defense is still one of the worst in the league with 258.6 yards on average allowed through the air for a No. 30 ranking. It had trouble stopping quarterback Bo Nix (19/29; 247 yards for four touchdowns and one interception) and the Broncos through the air, allowing a total of 247 passing yards and 7.5 yards per play. On paper, the Cardinals' pass game should have the advantage and they should capitalize on it.
