The Washington Commanders are back off their bye week and ready to make one final push to cement a postseason berth. This starts by winning at the New Orleans Saints this weekend.
Going to the Caesars Superdome comes with a tricky set of challenges. It's notoriously loud and can make things extremely uncomfortable. The Commanders must be ready for anything and stay calm amid the playoff-chasing chaos.
This is not the same Saints team that was regularly in Super Bowl contention during the days of head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. They aren't mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, but it would take a miracle at this late stage. New Orleans will also be without the services of veteran quarterback Derek Carr to further raise hope.
The Commanders aren't in a position to take things lightly. They're the ones under pressure with the Los Angeles Rams breathing down their neck for the seventh seed. Getting an extended period of rest should have reenergized this group, but imposing themselves early versus inferior, under-strength opposition is crucial.
With that being said, we made five bold predictions for Washington's crunch Week 15 road game in New Orleans.
Bold predictions for the Commanders in Week 15 at the Saints
K.J. Osborn scores a touchdown
The Washington Commanders acted swiftly to ease the blow of Noah Brown's injury. Dan Quinn revealed that the wide receiver would miss several weeks and potentially the rest of 2024 with a serious internal issue. Adam Peters reacted accordingly, claiming K.J. Osborn off the waiver wire following his release by the New England Patriots.
Osborn's time in New England was unsuccessful. Before that, the former fifth-round selection was a dependable weapon for the Minnesota Vikings. That's what the Commanders will be hoping for to compensate for Brown's loss.
Just how much Osborn will feature this weekend is anyone's guess. It'll be a crash course for the pass-catcher in the coming days. If he takes on this wealth of information, Kliff Kingsbury might give him some targets if the player's conditioning dictates.
If the Commanders allocate reps to Osborn and he scores a touchdown, that'll be a tremendous start.
Marshon Lattimore secures a debut interception
Marshon Lattimore is set to make his long-awaited debut for the Washington Commanders this weekend. It's been weeks since the cornerback was acquired via trade before the deadline. After showing significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring issue, all signs point to the former first-round pick taking the field.
The Commanders might ease Lattimore into action considering how long he's been away from the gridiron. His first Washington appearance also happens to be at the New Orleans Saints, the team that traded him away.
It'll be an emotional occasion for Lattimore. He's experienced and competitive enough to put his feelings to one side and do whatever it takes to get one over on his old employers. Introducing a legitimate shutdown presence at this late stage is a significant tool for the Commanders' defense to have in their arsenal.
The Saints know how good Lattimore is. They might not test him too often, but the Ohio State product can make a massive statement by bringing in an interception to formally announce himself to the Washington faithful.
Commanders hold Alvin Kamara under 80 combined yards
Regardless of whether veteran quarterback Derek Carr is on the field or not, the New Orleans Saints offense runs through Alvin Kamara. He's the key that makes everything go. Stopping him will be the biggest objective above all else for the Washington Commanders this weekend.
Kamara is still performing at an extremely high level despite New Orleans' struggles overall. The running back is one of the league's most prolific dual threats, boasting a rare blend of size, speed, and patience to take over any game when firing on all cylinders.
Restricting Kamara has been a tough task for most this season. He's averaging 109.46 yards from scrimmage from 13 games. The former third-round pick has gone over the 100-yard milestone eight times in 2024 — including 215 against the Carolina Panthers. Washington's improving defense cannot let the player dictate proceedings.
They need to be around Kamara consistently and make him the focal point of their strategy. Keeping him contained at the contact point and plugging rushing lanes can frustrate the Tennessee product enough for the Commanders to attain success.
Luke McCaffrey gains 6+ receptions
Noah Brown's unfortunate injury means others need to step up and provide adequate support to Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Signing K.J. Osborn could help, but that might not be immediately.
There are concerns about Washington's strength in the wideout room. Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus have flashed briefly but nothing more. The one with more intrigue is third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey, who's demonstrated promise despite the Commanders taking things slowly with the wideout.
McCaffrey's had a lot of reps without the targets to show for it. This is all part of the learning curve, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury might have to put more on the former Rice star's plate to see how he fares.
This is a calculated risk by the Commanders. McCaffrey's developed encouraging chemistry with Jayden Daniels. He can get open consistently. His 80 percent catch success rate suggests a level of dependability — albeit from limited involvement.
If the Commanders give McCaffrey a vote of confidence with additional targets, gaining six receptions or more is well within his capabilities.
Commanders move into the sixth seed
Most pessimistic Washington Commanders fans are already nervously looking over their shoulders after the Los Angeles Rams secured a shocking upset over the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. However, it's also worth looking further up the NFC playoff standings.
The Green Bay Packers occupy the sixth seed. Washington is one game back after Matt LaFleur's men lost to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. They also happen to make a testing trip to the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, who've been in red-hot form of late and currently sit atop the NFC West.
Dan Quinn has pleaded with his team to focus on what they can control and take things one game at a time. Worrying about anything else is not an option. But if they can get the job done at the New Orleans Saints, one could forgive them for keeping a close eye on developments at Lumen Field on the Sunday night primetime stage.
This is a best-case scenario for the Commanders. At the same time, it could be a realistic one if they remain professional and the Seahawks do them a huge favor.
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