The Washington Commanders came to Arrowhead ready to play—perhaps more than most fans expected—which is why it took the Kansas City Chiefs a full half to figure how to get going. Despite playing without their franchise quarterback, Washington played aggressive, physical football and frustrated the Chiefs up front for 30 minutes before finally giving way to a healthier and more talented team in a 28-7 loss to Kansas City in Week 8.
The mood was light in the aftermath of the Chiefs' latest win, as it should have been. The Chiefs are now 5-3 after starting the season 0-2, and the offense once again showed that it can score on any team at any time. The defense also staved off Washington's best efforts with key turnovers and fourth-down stops, opportunistic halts that have become hallmarks of which Steve Spagnuolo will be proud.
The Chiefs looked both sloppy and dominant on Monday night, and now face a short week before visiting the Buffalo Bills. Before we turn our attention to Week 9, let's break down the winners and losers from Monday Night Football.
Winner: Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt is no longer the three-down, well-rounded offensive threat that once the third of three unstoppable weapons in the Chiefs' offense (with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill being the others). However, Hunt's return to Kansas City has been successful all the same, even as he's provided value in a new lane as a dependable short-yardage back.
On Monday, Hunt had two touchdowns against the Commanders, including a short catch from Mahomes in the end zone. Just as important was the way Andy Reid and company can lean on him to keep drives moving when just a couple of yards are needed to move the chains. With 9 carries for 40 yards, Hunt also proved he can gain some ground, too, when given the chance.
Winner: Mike Danna
Sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time, but Mike Danna did his part when presented with opportunities on Monday night. The end result was two game-changing plays that helped the Chiefs put away the Commanders.
Early on, Danna was able to bring in a deflected pass off the hands of Washington wide receiver Deebo Samuel for his first career interception. The turnover stalled an opening drive that was otherwise promising for a Commanders offense operating without its franchise quarterback. Later in the game, Danna was able to sack backup quarterback Marcus Mariota on a free pass, when the right side of the Commanders line was clearly dealing with communication issues.
Danna's underappreciated career hasn't given him many days in the spotlight, but Monday was a big one for the veteran end.
Loser: Defensive disruption
So much of Washington's ability to threaten the Chiefs in the first half came down to the amount of time that Marcus Mariota had in the pocket to make plays. Simply put, the Chiefs weren't getting any real push with their front line despite facing a backup quarterback. Credit belongs to the Commanders offensive front, which features some nice performers in the mix, but Chris Jones and company were nowhere to be found for long stretches. It wasn't a good night for the Chiefs' pass rush overall.
Winner: Rashee Rice
The first half wasn't pretty for anyone on offense, but the Chiefs came alive in the second half to bury the Commanders, and so much of that came down to leaning on Rice in key situations. In his second game back from suspension, Rice caught all 9 of his targets on Monday for 90 yards and 1 touchdown, and there's little question that the Chiefs' offense now flows through him.
Winner: Travis Kelce
While Rice might be the most trusted target for Patrick Mahomes these days, that doesn't take away the security blanket that Kelce provides in the Chiefs offense. The eye-popping numbers are no longer there, but he's still one of the most productive tight ends in the game and appears headed for his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl. On Monday, Kelce led all Chiefs receivers with 99 yards and had a nice touchdown grab on a night where he also tied running back Priest Holmes for the Chiefs' franchise record for regular-season touchdowns with 83.
Loser: Special teams miscues
The Chiefs have the ability to beat any team in the National Football League just as long as they don't beat themselves. But Monday night, despite the 21-point victory, also reminded fans how K.C. can get in its own way. From a Jack Cochrane holding call to Christian Roland-Wallace doing the same, special teams weren't so special on Monday night as penalties set them back. It cost them in Week 5 in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Better teams will take advantage of such moments in the future.
Losers: Offensive line replacements
The Chiefs needed 30 minutes to get their act together on offense, with only 7 points and 2 turnovers in the first half of the game. The Chiefs went into the locker room at halftime frustrated with the state of their offensive line, which was clearly struggling while dealing with changes up front. Jaylon Moore was making his third start in place of Josh Simmons and Mike Caliendo was at right guard for Trey Smith.
Moore took his licks from Jacob Martin on the edge early, while Caliendo was pushed aside by Javon Kinlaw. Both players found ways to move forward in the second half, but Trey Smith's back injury will be an important situation to monitor. Moore has looked solid in place of Simmons overall, but this line is going to struggle without two of its best players.