The Washington Commanders enter Week 3 facing a crossroads that could make or break their campaign. After a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers, they'll be at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, with a four-day rest advantage.
Needless to say, this is a game the Commanders should win. It's a game they absolutely must win. If they don't, any credibility around the league as a Super Bowl hopeful will instantly fall apart, and team morale could spiral out of control.
Washington would be viewed as one of the season's biggest disappointments before September is even over. It's a label this team cannot afford.
Commanders must make life easy for Marcus Mariota to avoid Week 3 complications
Unfortunately, the Commanders are dealing with some adversity whether they like it or not. Running back Austin Ekeler and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. are out for the season. Wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates have been ruled out at Northwest Stadium this weekend.
But the most significant loss of all is franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels suffered a knee sprain during the fourth quarter of the loss in Green Bay and will miss the clash. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota will be under center for the Commanders.
Mariota is one of the most dependable backup quarterbacks in football, and he held his own when called into action last year against the Carolina Panthers. In that game, Daniels left early with a broken rib, and the former No. 2 overall pick of the Tennessee Titans passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a decisive victory.
However, Mariota has been dealing with Achilles tendinitis in recent weeks, which held him out of all three of Washington's preseason contests. The Commanders are confident he is healthy enough to hold down the fort, but he might take a few drives to shake off the rust.
It will fall on offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to make Mariota's job easier. Washington needs to establish the run early and often, and likely get Deebo Samuel Sr. heavily involved in his gadget role. A better performance by Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense than the one the Commanders got last week — both from a scheming and an execution standpoint — will also be critical.
Mariota is more than capable of leading the Commanders to victory. But it will take a total team effort to prove Washington can survive without its superstar signal-caller.