Commanders defense secures five sacks
The Tennessee Titans are starting to see progress from quarterback Will Levis. It's far from perfect where the second-year quarterback is concerned, but he's getting better at bouncing back and moving on swiftly from one play to the next.
Putting Levis under extreme pressure is essential for the Washington Commanders this weekend. Specifically, finding ways to generate pressure consistently and either forcing sacks or turnover opportunities.
Levis does get flustered under pressure. His pocket navigation needs work and the Titans are giving up 3.7 sacks per game this season on average. The Commanders' defensive front seven should be relishing the prospect of making a substantial impact on proceedings in this one.
If the Commanders can get around the five-sack mark in Week 13, that should be enough for Levis to regress after his encouraging effort to beat the Houston Texans. Whether defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. has enough at his disposal to accomplish this feat is another matter.
Terry McLaurin gains 150 receiving yards
The Commanders need to get Terry McLaurin more involved. Aside from his mind-blowing play to almost send the game into overtime against the Dallas Cowboys, the Pro Bowl wide receiver was on the fringes. That has to change if Washington wants to get out of its current slump.
McLaurin remains the team's most dependable pass-catcher. Others have struggled to get involved or find the consistency needed. Kliff Kingsbury must recognize this fact and get the former third-round pick into the game plan early and often versus the Tennessee Titans.
When the Commanders' offense was in their best rhythm this season, McLaurin was the focal point. Having a stable running game played a leading role in their success, but that isn't guaranteed this weekend with Austin Ekeler missing and Brian Robinson Jr. not at 100 percent. Leaning on the Ohio State product heavily is the most profitable avenue.
The wideout lives for the big occasion. McLaurin's experienced almost nothing but losing since being drafted, so he won't want the Commanders to squander the opportunity in front of them. Expect a big day from the player this weekend.