One Commanders player that could flip Week 8 on its head
Monday Night Football brings another massive test for the Washington Commanders, who will once again line up without quarterback Jayden Daniels under center.
It’ll be Marcus Mariota calling the shots for the third time already this season. For Washington to hang around in what could turn into a shootout, the trenches will have to show up. That starts with rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr., whose development has been one of the more intriguing storylines of the Commanders’ 2025 campaign thus far.
There have been ups and downs — as there always are for a first-year lineman — but Conerly’s athleticism and range have flashed consistently. He’s not just a big body at the edge of the formation; he’s a fluid mover who can climb to the second level, pull across the formation, and create angles in space that open up Washington’s ground game.
Commanders need Josh Conerly Jr. to continue his encouraging growth in Week 8
His ability to win A-to-B — that quick linear burst from his stance to engagement — is where he’s special. When Conerly gets his hands inside and plays with proper leverage, he can displace defenders and create running lanes that give the offense some much-needed rhythm.
A product of Oregon, Conerly's skill set will be vital against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that thrives on chaos.
Steve Spagnuolo’s group loves to disguise pressure and bring heat from multiple directions. Conerly can expect to see overloaded looks, stunts, and blitzes off his outside shoulder.
The rookie will see plenty of Chris Jones, who the Chiefs will bump outside — a player with the strength and veteran savvy to exploit any misstep —and George Karlaftis, a relentless sack artist who wins with power and leverage, very similar to old Commanders standout Ryan Kerrigan.
It’s a baptism by fire for the young tackle, but it’s also a significant opportunity to showcase why Washington spent first-round capital on him.
The Commanders won’t leave him on an island all game.
Expect Zach Ertz and John Bates to chip on the edge, especially on obvious passing downs. The goal of every offensive line is to avoid true isolation reps, and the Commanders understand the risk of letting Spagnuolo’s rushers tee off on their backup quarterback. Still, there will be moments where Conerly has to hold up one-on-one. How he fares in those moments could dictate how competitive the game stays.
In pass protection, Conerly’s quickness out of his stance and ability to mirror have shown growth each week. He’s learning to trust his feet, not overextend, and let his length work for him. If he can stay patient and anchor, Mariota will have just enough time to work through progressions and hit his eligibles downfield.
When taking the lens back, the bottom line remains that the Commanders’ defense hasn’t been able to stop much of anything in recent weeks, so the offense will need to do heavy lifting to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes.
That starts with giving Mariota clean pockets and keeping the run game alive — both areas where Conerly can make an impact.
If the rookie tackle can move bodies in the run game and hold firm against the Chiefs’ defensive front, he could quietly be the difference between another long night and a signature win for the Commanders in Week 8.
Lightning Beat Ducks, First Home Win During Night of Milestones
The Tampa Bay Lightning took down the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3, to pick up their first win on home ice this season. It was a tight bout that had multiple career milestones help lead them to victory.
The Lightning opened scoring with a goal by Jake Guentzel, representing the lone score of the first period. Jacob Trouba would knot it up at one apiece in the early minutes of the second period.
The next two goals would feature a career milestone for two star players on the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov’s assist on Guentzel’s second goal of the night notched him his 1,000th career point.
The following score, Anthony Cirelli’s goal to make it 3-1, gave Victor Hedman his 800th career point and Brandon Hagel’s 300th career point. This series of milestones put the Lightning in the driver’s seat heading into the final period of play.
However, the Ducks took advantage of key offensive attacks to get back into the game. Ryan Poehling tipped a pass coming across the front of the net past Jonas Johansson to cut the lead to one. Troy Terry tied it back up a minute later.
With the clock winding down in the game, the Lightning became the first of either team to capitalize on a power play. Anthony Cirelli found the back of the net to give them a 4-3 lead, proving to be the game-winning goal.
The Lightning pick up where they left off on Sunday when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights to wrap up the weekend. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, the Ducks head south to Sunrise to take on the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. PDT.
Three Stars of the Game
- Nikita Kucherov (1,000th point, two assists)
- Anthony Cirelli (two goals, one assist)
- Jake Guentzel (two goals)
