After a week of intense criticism and ridicule, the Washington Commanders are no doubt looking forward to getting back on the field and righting the wrong from their overtime calamity against the New York Giants.
Unfortunately for head coach Dan Quinn's squad, the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers are waiting for them on Monday Night Football.
The Niners have been in sensational form to begin the campaign. They are 5-0, despite missing some top stars to injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is finding ways to win, and they have already beaten the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos this season to cement their status as a real contender.
This will be a difficult proposition for Washington to overcome. At the same time, nobody is expecting anything other than a heavy defeat, which could work in their favor.
They can play with more freedom. They can relax, though there is pressure to put up a fight, at the very least. And after completely botching their chance to win in Week 5, fans will be watching their response closely.
This is no time for half-measures. Everyone must come together, and the Commanders must put in maximum effort before the bye week. And when expectations are low, that's when this squad tends to do well.
Hopefully, that will be the case at Levi's Stadium. But these seven Commanders must deliver with the prime-time spotlight shining on them.
Washington Commanders under pressure to shine in the prime-time spotlight against the 49ers
Daronte Jones - Commanders DC
The Washington Commanders have a strange defense. In the first half, they look as good as anything in the league. In the second half, they are statistically among the NFL's worst units, which is completely bizarre.
These second-half capitulations happen too often to be just a blip. The drop-off is alarming, and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones must solve it sooner rather than later.
Because if the same happened against the Niners, their offense could put up points quickly.
Jones believes changes can arrive if they become fundamentally sound and relax more in the face of adversity. Easier said than done, but the play-caller must also make the right adjustments when the opposing sideline switches its strategy.
For all of Jones' positives since taking the job, this is an area where he's lacking right now. Some harsh truths have been delivered throughout the week, but big-time improvements are needed against San Francisco's powerful offense led by quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, and wide receiver Mike Evans.
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