Daily Slop – 9 Nov 25 – Game day!! If you’re going to the Lions game today, plan to arrive early to deal with added security

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The Athletic (paywall)

How a Washington Commanders team on the rise was knocked off track

It’s never just one thing. Never just one decision or one play. It’s never just one game, even. It’s always a collection of smaller things that decide an NFL season.

The 2024 Washington Commanders seemed to find all the right things — on the field and off. They found their quarterback of the future in Jayden Daniels, found two other new starters in the draft, found veterans eager to lead and prove they still had it, and quickly found their identity from their play style and attention to detail.

Yet Washington clearly missed some of those same touchstones this season, and that helps explain why the team is now sitting at 3-6 with a difficult road ahead. The Commanders have just a 1 percent chance to make the postseason, according to The Athletic’s simulator — the lowest odds of any 2024 playoff team. The details matter, so much so that a few missteps can lead to a debacle by inches.

Here are some of the smaller things that have led to the Commanders’ spiral this season.
Roster gambles that didn’t pan out
Injuries and more injuries
Speaking of tight ends …
Continued performance issues on defense
Communication problems
Slowed development

ESPN

NFL Week 10 predictions, fantasy sleepers, QB notes, bets

Detroit puts something extra on Washington

The No. 1 seed Lions suffered one of the most embarrassing upsets of the entire 2024 season against the Commanders, who beat them 45-31 in the divisional round at their home barn. Quarterback Jared Goff acknowledged this week that there’s “added motivation” heading to Washington. The Commanders’ defense is reeling, and the offense has lost all of its wind from last season. If the Lions are up 21 in the fourth quarter, I won’t be surprised if the entire starting offense is back out there to make it 28.

Will Washington’s offensive game plan shift at all under Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels sidelined?

Not a whole lot, considering they have similar styles. Both are comfortable running the ball and operating the run-pass option and quick game favored by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The problem for both quarterbacks is how defenses are taking away some of that by playing more man coverage lately.

But there are some differences. When Washington goes no-huddle and more up-tempo, Mariota typically likes to go at a faster pace. The problem this season, however, is having a defense that can’t afford quick three-and-outs by the offense. Still, if Washington wants to play faster, Mariota likes doing so. Also, Mariota is more apt to run on a designed playcall rather than scramble, which is what Daniels will do more often.