Eventually, honeymoons end, dishes need cleaning and bills need paying. In other words, Jayden Daniels and the first-place Washington Commanders will run out of fuel and land their flight. But when? It might be soon, according to NFL.com writer Kevin Patra, who listed Washington among nine precarious situations entering Week 7.
Patra’s primary reason for hovering his hand over the panic button is analytics, which reveals a wide chasm between Washington’s offensive success and its defensive struggles.
“Jayden Daniels and the offense under Kliff Kingsbury have been a revelation, divebombing defenses and creatively dicing up opponents with aplomb rarely seen from first-year QBs and retread coaches,” Patra wrote on Wednesday. “The question is whether Dan Quinn’s defense could be Washington’s Achilles’ heel.”
But analytics and the high-octane Ravens aside, one thing is certain for the Commanders (4-2), who host Carolina (1-5) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS). The season-ending pectoral injury to defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is a serious blow. Plus, defensive end Dorance Armstrong is limited with a rib injury. Washington figures to struggle rushing the passer, beginning with Andy Dalton this week.
“Washington’s counting on Daniels to continue his super-human run through the NFL,” Patra said. “Can the rookie keep piling up points and jaw-dropping plays while carrying a sagging defense to the NFC East title?”
That remains to be seen over the season’s final 12 weeks, in an NFC East with savvy veterans like Saquon Barkley and Dak Prescott, and emerging superstars like Malik Nabers. Check back in December to see whether this exciting Washington offense turns out differently than the last time their rookie quarterback stormed through the league.
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