Arrowhead Pride
For the NFL’s Week 8 episode of “Monday Night Football,” the (3-4) Washington Commanders face the (4-3) Kansas City Chiefs on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs will be trying for their third consecutive victory after dominating the Las Vegas Raiders in a 31-0 beatdown in Week 7. Standing in their way will be the Commanders, who will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive defeat after the team’s 44-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.
They’ll have to do it without star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is out for the game after injuring his hamstring against Dallas. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota — who led a comeback win against Kansas City in a 2017 Wild Card game — has won both of his career starts at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and deferred. Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey took Harrison Butker’s kickoff in front of the end zone and returned the ball to the Washington 43-yard line to start the opening drive. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota began the game with a six-yard throw to wideout Deebo Samuel. Mariota then rushed for three of the remaining yards. On third-and-1, rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for three yards for a new set of downs at the Kansas City 45. Mariota and Samuel connected again on first down for five yards, and Croskey-Merritt gained two yards on second down. On third-and-3, Mariota gained seven yards for a first down at the 31. A throw to McCaffrey gained nine more yards immediately, and Croskey-Merritt again moved the chains. As the drive moved to the red zone, Mariota attempted to find Samuel on first down. The ball bounced off of the wideout’s hands — and into those of defensive end Mike Danna for an interception. After a ten-yard return, the Chiefs would take over at their own 32.
Isiah Pacheco began the drive with a two-yard carry, but a sack on Patrick Mahomes on second down wiped out the gain. Mahomes nearly gained the needed ten yards on third down, but his foot went out of bounds just shy of the marker. On fourth-and-one from the Kansas City 41, running back Kareem Hunt barreled for five yards to keep the drive going. Brashard Smith became the third running back to touch the ball on the next play, but he barely made the line of scrimmage. On second down, Mahomes found Xavier Worthy for 27 yards to the Washington 26. The two could not connect on the next play as Mahomes overthrew Worthy. After Mahomes was incomplete on second down, he threw an interception to Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore while targeting Hollywood Brown. The Commanders took over at their own seven-yard line.
Croskey-Merritt gained four yards on first down and two more the play after. On third-and-2 from the 15, found running back Jeremy McNichols for a 24-yard gain. McCaffrey brought in a sideline toe tapping catch to the Kansas City 44 for 17 yards. Running back Chris Rodriguez...
