While the Washington Commanders deal with another tough loss, the Vikings are hopeful for the return of the struggling J.J. McCarthy. And here are the bold predictions for the Commanders’ Week 14 clash with the Vikings.
The Commanders (3-9) will visit the Vikings, who enter with a nearly equal bad record of 4-8. Both teams are going nowhere fast. But at least one of them will emerge this week with a win. Unless they tie.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin will get 80-plus yards
There’s no way for McLaurin to make up for all the time he missed this season. And he clearly hurt the team with his preseason holdout.
But at least McLaurin gave a good effort against the Broncos. And finishing strong would help set him up for a better 2026 season. He had seven catches for 96 yards against a tough Broncos defense and scored a touchdown.
McLaurin blew past his snap count. And he said he did it for his teammates, according to commanderswire.com.
“There was a rep count, but in my mind, I knew the game was close. I'm gonna spill it for my teammates,” McLaurin said. “I mean, screw the rep count. So just to have the joy of the locker room guys supporting me, being out there is something I don't take for granted.”
This showed a little something about McLaurin’s heart. He has always been a gamer. It’s a shame he put money in front of his teammates. And he disrupted an entire season. But that’s life in the NFL.
Look for the Vikings to make things difficult for Marcus Mariota. It’s almost a guarantee Mariota will throw a pick against the Vikings’ clever defensive schemes.
However, there will also be success. And McLaurin will benefit from the passing success.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson will have 80-plus yards and a TD
This will be tougher to accomplish because the Vikings’ quarterback situation is horrific. Jefferson’s play has suffered, but it isn’t his fault.
The Vikings have somehow managed to find a quarterback so bad that Jefferson’s once-quarterback-proff status is gone. Against the Seahawks, Jefferson had two catches for four yards. That statistic alone should mean Max Brosmer should never play in the NFL again.
Jefferson bailed on the media after the game, but who could blame him? If he faced the media with honesty, he could only say bad things about Brosmer, the team, and the organization.
Remember, the Vikings bailed on Sam Darnold. Yes, Darnold failed in the clutch last year. But he is light years better than McCarthy has been this year.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell understands what is happening, according to nypost.com.
“In no way, shape, or form can we play offensive football like that and try to win at a place like this,” O’Connell said after Brosmer threw for 126 yards with four interceptions.
Remember, O’Connell apparently not only didn’t want Darnold, but he also turned his back on Aaron Rodgers. Go figure. Maybe O’Connell isn’t the coaching whiz some people have made him out to be. One thing a coach must be able to do is evaluate talent. And he was willing to roll with McCarthy.
Jefferson had two big games this season. They both came with Carson Wentz behind center. And everybody knows how bad Wentz has been in his career.
So, how does Jefferson get to 80 yards and a touchdown with McCarthy — likely to return from a concussion this week — back in the lineup? It’s the Commanders’ generous defense. They will guard against the deep ball, and Jefferson will get his yardage in the intermediate area. Hopefully. It’s asking a lot because McCarthy’s completion percentage of 54.1 is horrendous.
Commanders WR Deebo Samuel will score a TD
It’s not like the Commanders will rack up a ton of yardage against the Vikings. But they should be able to score two or three touchdowns. And unless there’s a pass-interference penalty in the end zone that gives them first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, they probably won’t get any rushing scores.
So that creates an opportunity for Samuel. The veteran receiver has graded out as below average this season, according to Pro Football Focus. He ranks No. 60 at the wide receiver position with an overall grade of 69.8.
Is that what the Commanders hoped for when they made the trade with the 49ers? No. But at least Samuel should make a positive impact this week.
Who will win this encounter? It looks like the Commanders enter as the more competitive team. They've lost twice in a row in overtime. It's time for them to turn that around. Predicted score: Commanders 24, Vikings 20.
