Within the Week 8 version of “Monday Night time Soccer,” the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs play host to the Washington Commanders.
Kansas Metropolis is coming off a dominating win over the division-rival Raiders, which moved the Chiefs over .500 for the primary time this season. They’ve received 4 of their final 5 video games after beginning out 0-2, and so they have an opportunity right here to maintain tempo within the AFC West race.
Washington misplaced in blowout style to division-rival Dallas final week, dropping to 3-4 within the course of after beforehand having blown a winnable recreation towards the Bears the week earlier than. The Commanders are as soon as once more beginning backup quarterback Marcus Mariota right here, after Jayden Daniels suffered an damage throughout the loss to the Cowboys.
Will the Chiefs proceed to roll, or will the Commanders bounce again? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient. Earlier than we break down the matchup, this is a have a look at how one can watch the sport.
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The place to look at Chiefs vs. Commanders reside
- Date: Monday, Oct. 27 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas Metropolis)
- TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (attempt free of charge)
- Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Chiefs -10.5, O/U 48.5 (through DraftKings Sportsbook)
When the Commanders have the ball
As talked about, the Commanders are as soon as once more with out Jayden Daniels for this recreation.
Mariota made two begins rather than Daniels earlier this season and went 31 of 48 for 363 yards, three touchdowns and an interception towards the Raiders and Falcons, whereas including 60 yards and a landing on his eight carries. Mariota will profit from having Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel again. McLaurin has been out since Week 4 whereas Samuel was enjoying via a heel damage and missed final week due to it.
Kansas Metropolis’s protection has been stingy since a season-opening loss to the Chargers. The Chiefs have allowed fewer than 300 complete yards in 4 of their final six video games, and final week they held the Raiders to 95 (NINETY-FIVE) yards on solely 30 snaps. They’ve confronted one thing of a comfortable schedule throughout that stretch because of video games towards Russell Wilson, a half of Cooper Rush after which the Raiders, however additionally they held the Lions largely in verify and did not precisely get lit up by Lamar Jackson earlier than his damage.
Washington will possible attempt to management the sport on the bottom with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Mariota, provided that the run recreation is prone to be the energy of the offense and that doing so would assist hold Patrick Mahomes off the sector.
The Commanders are averaging a league-best 5.3 yards per rush, with a good portion of these being yards after contact as a result of each their operating backs and quarterbacks have been good at breaking tackles. (They’ve the league’s Tenth-highest averted sort out price.) The Chiefs will be run on, as they’ve given up 4.5 yards per carry, so the technique of making an attempt to pound the rock might be a sensible one.
When Mariota does drop again to go, he’ll face a unit that ranks fifth-best within the league in EPA per dropback, through Tru Media, holding opponents to six.6 yards per try with simply seven touchdowns in seven weeks towards 4 picks. The Chiefs have restricted explosive performs via the air for probably the most half, and so they’ve carried out a superb job of getting off the sector on third downs. Their strain price is among the many finest within the league and the protection has largely been sticky. Even with McLaurin and Samuel again, Mariota might wrestle via the air until Kliff Kingsbury finds a option to scheme him into quick-strike throws.
In a season slipping away, Commanders are proper to prioritize Jayden Daniels’ well being — now and for the longer term
Zachary Pereles
When the Chiefs have the ball
Kansas Metropolis’s offense is on a roll proper now. After a sluggish begin to the season, the Chiefs have produced not less than 355 yards, 24 first downs and 28 factors in 4 consecutive video games. The Chiefs obtained Rashee Rice again final week towards the Raiders, and he debuted with seven catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns regardless of enjoying solely 33 snaps. Kansas Metropolis will proceed to ramp up his workload and proceed to profit from his presence.
Patrick Mahomes is already enjoying at an MVP stage with a 66.1% completion price at 7.3 yards per try with 14 touchdowns and simply two interceptions, and he is added 250 yards and 4 scores together with his legs. Mahomes has lastly gotten again to hitting for explosive performs, connecting with guys like Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton and Hollywood Brown down the sector whereas persevering with to work effectively within the beneath areas of the sector, simply as he has for the final a number of seasons.
Washington has been one of many NFL’s weakest go defenses this season, checking in twenty third in Tru Media’s EPA per dropback whereas permitting opponents to common 8.3 yards per try and throw 12 landing passes towards two interceptions. The Commanders have given up 22 completions of 20 or extra yards, per Tru Media, rating twenty fifth in explosive go price allowed. Towards a Chiefs workforce that’s throwing downfield extra usually than in latest seasons, that is a recipe for giving up large performs.
The Commanders should generate a ton of strain to cowl up for the secondary, and so they have really carried out a superb job of that thus far this yr, gathering a sack, hit or hurry on 40.7% of opponent dropbacks whereas blitzing at a price solely barely above league common. The Chiefs will once more be with out left sort out Josh Simmons, however they’ve largely stored Mahomes nicely protected this yr and he has carried out an unimaginable job of scrambling away from strain at any time when the safety has damaged down.
Kansas Metropolis’s run recreation hasn’t been a lot to write down dwelling about thus far this yr, with Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith combining to common simply 3.9 yards per carry. Pacheco has just lately taken extra management of the backfield with Hunt taking a again seat, however Hunt has remained the third-down and short-yardage again. Smith has largely operated as a gadget man, with the Chiefs seeking to get the ball in his fingers at any time when he is on the sector however utilizing him in a restricted position, primarily as a pass-catcher.
Washington’s defensive entrance has carried out an OK job towards the run this season, limiting opposing backs to simply 1.22 yards earlier than contact per carry, which ranks Tenth within the NFL. The Commanders have been a poor tackling unit, although, rating twenty ninth in damaged sort out price and giving up yards after contact. Whether or not this group of Chiefs backs is able to breaking tackles is an open query, however the recreation plan is prone to be pass-heavy and centered on Mahomes and Co. both manner.
Prediction
Kansas Metropolis has matchup benefits right here, significantly with the best way its offense has appeared over the past a number of weeks. With the Commanders on the street and beginning their backup quarterback, it is laborious to do something however take the Chiefs, even laying the factors.
Choose: Chiefs 31, Commanders 13
