After just two games into the season, the consensus was that the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty was on the verge of ending once and for all. Back-to-back losses exposed the team’s flaws and put Andy Reid‘s team into an unprecedented hole. Two wins in a row climbed them out of that hole, only to fall back down in Jacksonville.
But since losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Chiefs have looked like their old selves. A surprisingly dominant win over the Detroit Lions was followed up by a 31-point shellacking of their fiercest division rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders. Along the way, Patrick Mahomes has looked like an MVP candidate once again. With the Washington Commanders coming to town for Monday Night Football, it posed a risk for the Chiefs. The Commanders made the NFC Championship game last season and need a win in a bad way.
But the Chiefs got great news late in the week, as second-year sensation Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the game due to a hamstring injury. While Marcus Mariota is a capable backup, he doesn’t have the accuracy or throwing talent that Daniels possesses. Washington’s top wide receivers, Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin, will be active for the game. They just won’t be catching passes from last season’s Rookie of the Year.
Kansas City Chiefs get good and bad news on the injury front
The Chiefs also got some good news on the injury front. Running back Kareem Hunt and cornerback Jaylen Watson both got banged up in last week’s victory, but both are expected to play on Monday Night Football. The good news stops there, though, because Kansas City will be down yet another offensive lineman for the game.
Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith has been listed as doubtful to play due to a back injury. That adds to the offensive line woes, as first round rookie tackle Josh Simmons remains away from the team because of personal reasons.
The Commanders rank in the Top 10 in sacks among all NFL defenses, so Mahomes could be under more pressure than normal on Monday night. The question is whether Mariota can put up enough points to keep the game close.
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