The Washington Commanders are heading into Week 13 with a challenging record of 3-8, and the situation is complicated by the absence of quarterback Jayden Daniels, who remains out due to an elbow injury. The team has decided to turn to Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback as they prepare to face off against the Denver Broncos.
In addition to the quarterback change, the Commanders are making adjustments to their special teams. They recently waived kicker Matt Gay following their disappointing loss in Madrid to the Miami Dolphins. During his time with Washington, Gay struggled significantly, making only 68.4% of his field goals and notably missing five attempts from distances over 50 yards. Since his release, Gay has quickly signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he has been perfect on four field goal attempts and four extra points in his first two games.
The Commanders have brought in Jake Moody to replace Gay. Moody, a former third-round pick by the 49ers, has had a tumultuous career so far, including a short stint with the Chicago Bears where he converted 3-of-4 field goal attempts. Throughout 34 games in his NFL career, he has maintained a field goal success rate of 76.1%, along with an impressive 98% for extra points. Moody’s longest field goal stands at 57 yards, achieved during his rookie year. After facing challenges, including an ankle injury and a dip in confidence, he is looking to revitalize his career in Washington, reuniting with former teammate Deebo Samuel Jr.
With Mariota at the helm, the Commanders must navigate a tough matchup against the formidable Broncos’ defense. There is optimism that Daniels might return next week, providing a potential lift for the team. For now, Mariota has shown some promise, having ranked in the weekly top ten for quarterback index three times in six games this season, achieving his best grade of 81.2 against the Raiders in Week 3. He currently holds the 16th ranking among 40 qualified quarterbacks.
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Washington’s offensive struggles have been evident, averaging just 17 points per game during a six-game losing streak. On the defensive side, the team managed a grade of 76.2 against the Dolphins, which marked a slight improvement following two consecutive games with failing grades.
In fantasy football circles, Troy Franklin has been a bright spot for the Commanders, having four games since Week 7 with at least 12.9 fantasy points, while Courtland Sutton has seen limited success, with only one game exceeding 10.7 points in the same timeframe.
As Week 13 unfolds, fans and analysts are keen to see if the changes made will help the Commanders end their losing streak and improve their standing in the league. The team will rely heavily on both Mariota’s performance and Moody’s contributions in the upcoming game.
