Ugly Marcus Mariota outlook could reveal Commanders’ harsh truth

There will be no Jayden Daniels for the Washington Commanders to depend upon again in Week 8. The quarterback is currently dealing with a low-grade hamstring strain, and the coaching staff opted not to drag this out by ruling the dynamic signal-caller out for the team's daunting trip to the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of time.

This will be the third time Daniels has been absent this season. His playing style dictates that some punishment will be taken, so whether this results in a slight change in approach moving forward remains to be seen.

That's a question for another day. Until then, Marcus Mariota will be tasked with leading the charge, and one NFL writer believes the former Oregon standout could be in for a rough evening with the prime-time spotlight glaring on Monday Night Football.

Comnmanders QB Marcus Mariota could be in for a rough ride against the Chiefs

Ryan Heckman from NFL Spin Zone thought the Chiefs' defense could overwhelm Mariota, leading to multiple sacks and a convincing home victory that further cements their Super Bowl aspirations.

If it's [Marcus] Mariota, the Chiefs will feast. Kansas City has yet to really hit their stride defensively in terms of sacks and takeaways as they sit in the middle of the pack, there. But, against the Commanders, Kansas City's defense is going to come up with five sacks on either a hobbled Daniels or the lesser-talented Mariota. In case there was any doubt, the Chiefs rout Washington in front of a national audience.Ryan Heckman

Mariota is widely regarded as one of the league's best backup quarterbacks. He's a solid pro who knows how to deploy Kliff Kingsbury's scheme effectively. However, his limitations are apparent, and Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have no trouble exploiting his weaknesses if the offensive line doesn't rise to the occasion.

Getting Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. back into the fold would also assist greatly. Dan Quinn stated that both wide receivers will practice this week, and there is hope they will feature. Fans have heard that before, so seeing is believing.

Establishing a potent ground attack should also give Mariota some extra confidence. Kingsbury needs to lean on the committee approach that proved so successful earlier in the campaign. Relying too heavily on seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in this sort of environment is a recipe for disaster, so expect to see more of Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols versus a Chiefs run defense giving up 105.7 yards per game.

The task awaiting Mariota is steep. He's had success at this venue before, but it would be a bombshell of epic proportions if the Commanders managed to pull this one off.