Commanders defense forces two turnovers
The Washington Commanders must win the turnover battle to secure success at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They've improved somewhat in this area throughout the campaign. Joe Whitt Jr. must turn things up another notch in the playoff pressure cooker.
Baker Mayfield has been efficient this season, completing 71.4 percent of his passes and throwing 41 touchdowns. However, the former No. 1 overall selection out of Oklahoma has 16 interceptions to his name.
If the Commanders can make Mayfield uncomfortable in the pocket, he could make mistakes. The signal-caller had his way with Washington's defense in Week 1, securing an 80 percent completion success for 289 passing yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a phenomenal 146.4 passer rating. That cannot happen again.
The Commanders' defense has improved since then. They are a more cohesive unit and competitive in almost all phases. However, the defensive line interior must step up after some lackluster displays in recent weeks.
Stopping rookie running back Bucky Irving from taking over proceedings would be a good place to start. That would pile more pressure on Mayfield to produce the goods, which he's more than capable of after galvanizing his career in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield is going to make plays. But if the Commanders can secure a couple of turnovers, it might tip the scales in their favor.
Commanders win a shootout
The Commanders come into the game as road underdogs in the Wild Card round. That's not entirely unexpected despite Dan Quinn's men winning five straight to reach the postseason. Make no mistake, writing them off entirely would be foolish.
Washington has some notable road wins on its résumé this season. They're unbeaten on primetime and have developed a flair for the dramatic. Couple this with the project being way ahead of schedule, and the Commanders are a dangerous outfit.
This looks like it could be a shootout. Both offenses are in good form and their defenses have weaknesses. The Commanders must set the tone early through supreme execution and coming through on key downs. Finding the right balance is also key, which is a complex conundrum for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to solve.
The Commanders should be well represented in the stands for this one. Their fans have been clamoring for something like this after watching the franchise descend into disgrace under Dan Snyder's ownership. They'll be doing everything in their power to spur the team on and hope they can match their passion on the field.
Anyone who thinks the Commanders don't have a chance hasn't been paying close enough attention this season. They live for the big moments. Don't be surprised if Quinn's squad comes through once again.