Week 9 just got more daunting for Commanders after Vikings blockbuster trade

The Washington Commanders have won three games in row and will look to make it four against the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. Fans were holding out hope that the front office would secure a trade before Tuesday’s deadline to spark the team’s playoff push, but nothing materialized.

In fact, the Commanders didn’t make any deals. All they did was release cornerback William Jackson, which revived major questions about the current regime and their failed big-money investments.

At the end of the day, it’s not a huge deal Washington sat on its hands at the deadline. The front office and  coaching staff clearly believe this is a good team when fully healthy — Ron Rivera has preached that since the offseason — and they’ll be returning key pieces like Chase Young and Jahan Dotson in a matter of weeks.

Who knows? Dotson could play as soon as Sunday vs the Vikings.

The Commanders will need all the offensive firepower they can get for Week 9. The Vikings flaunt one of the league’s most explosive offenses and they added another weapon for old friend Kirk Cousins before the deadline in the form of Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson, an undisputed top 10 player at his position.

The Commanders’ Week 9 opponent, the Vikings, just traded for star tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Trades involving tight ends don’t usually have the “blockbuster” billing, but this undoubtedly qualifies as Hockenson is a game-changer at the position. Furthermore, Minnesota is 6-1 and clearly recognizes the NFC is wide open. The Vikings are on a fast rack to winning their first NFC North crown since 2017 and this move locks them in as a top-three team in the conference with the Eagles and Cowboys.

For the Commanders, though, it’s a worrying sign for Week 9. While the defense has performed lights-out for the last month, the Vikings represent their stiffest challenge since Week 4, when they allowed the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys to score 25 points despite winning the time of possession battle by six minutes.

Already equipped with Justin Jefferson, a top-three receiver at worst, Dalvin Cook, a top-five running back, and Adam Thielen, one of the league’s premier red zone threats, the Commanders will now have to account for Hockenson, too, who’s tied for fifth amongst tight ends in receiving yards, first in yards per catch (15.2) and tied for fourth with three touchdowns.

That was with Jared Goff throwing him spirals. You have to think Hockenson’s week-to-week efficiency will skyrocket in Minnesota.

Just bad timing from a Commanders perspective. Hopefully, Hockenson’s mid-week arrival means he only has a limited role on Sunday. Like we saw in Christian McCaffrey’s first game with the 49ers, though, the Vikings could have a specific package designed for the 2020 Pro Bowler to help him settle in to the offense.