The Washington Commanders won't just have the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to contend with in Week 3. Adverse weather conditions also add to the threat.
With a nor'easter ripping off the Atlantic, most Northeast games will be affected this weekend. The Commanders are no different, with swirling winds and rain expected throughout the clash at Northwest Stadium.
This isn't new for the Commanders. It gets wet and cold during the NFL season, and head coach Dan Quinn's squad should be better versed in coping with these conditions than the Seahawks, who are traveling cross-country for a 1:00 p.m. ET game for the first time this season.
That won't guarantee success for Washington; far from it.
However, it might make the margins a little bit finer as Quinn's squad looks to pull off a major upset against one of the league's heavyweights.
Dan Stillman, lead meteorologist at Capital Weather, outlined what fans can expect during the game. He isn't anticipating heavy rain, but it will be chilly with light to moderate showers. Couple that with the expected wind, and conditions won't be exactly favorable.
"It shouldn't be a sustained heavy rain, but it won't exactly be pleasant, with cool temperatures and some wind-whipped showers. Plan for occasional light to moderate showers with temperatures near 60, cloudy skies, and winds gusting from the northwest around 25 to 35 mph."
The Commanders have their backs against the wall. It'll be a time for strong characters and maximum effort. But wet, windy conditions make it even more imperative that they protect the football.
Washington won't have quarterback Jayden Daniels under center as he recovers from another dislocated elbow. Marcus Mariota gets the start, and he'll have to lean heavily on his ground attack to set the tone. And given Jacory Croskey-Merritt's ball-security issues so far, it's not hard to see where complications could emerge.
The defense must do its part, too. They haven't created a turnover yet in two weeks, which is disappointing. But if they can get the football loose in this one, their chances of success improve exponentially.
Of course, wet, windy conditions will also put rookie kicker Drew Stevens under the microscope.
It's been an up-and-down start for the Iowa product through two games, which has been relatively overlooked with so many problems elsewhere. Stevens has a booming leg, but the accuracy from long distance has been inconsistent. Things won't get any easier in Week 3 if the weather forecast is accurate, so he has to produce when his number is called.
Bad weather comes with the territory sometimes. The Commanders just have to roll up their sleeves and cope better than the Seahawks.
Easier said than done, but if they can, this contest might be closer than people think.
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