UKHTTC Pregame Quick Read - Week 1 (Cardinals)

Hot Takes

My hot take is that the Commanders balance the run and pass game nicely vs inferior opponents. Brian Robinson Jnr carries the football for 100 yards in this first game of the season and also has at least one TD.

Bonus Hot Take: I am going to throw in that the Commanders take advantage of a middling Arizona interior OL and journey man veteran Joshua Dobbs who is sacked a minimum of four times. I was looking at a few draft profiles for Dobbs and accuracy has been an issue hence him bumping around the league.

He does have mobility so some of the sacks might even come from attempts to extend a play or two.

Key match ups

He is currently listed as questionable, but Marquise Brown would provide Emmanuel Forbes with a tricky introduction to the National Football League if Arizona can keep their QB upright.

Paris Johnson Jnr was a high draft pick to play LT for the Cardinals, so I am intrigued to see how Montez Sweat performs in the season opener in what is a big year for the DE in burgundy & gold.

Keys to win?

Mentality and discipline.

It has been a while since the Commanders ran out as favourites at FedEx and in front of a sell-out crowd. The pre-season has been encouraging, with obvious development at the QB position and also additions to the backfield.

However, this is Week 1, so I feel mentality is hugely important and that the guys stick to the game plan without having to force things. Good will flow from doing their job in a polished manner.

And do not give the Cardinals hope. Avoid fumbles, penalties, and stray passes!

Spotlight player

Has to be QB Sam Howell.

Running out onto a packed FedEx after clearly winning the positional battle in camp vs veteran Jacoby Brissett. Solidity at the hardest position in Sports can make everything else so much easier.

All eyes on Sam for Week 1 for me.

Predictions

The Washington interior DL of Payne and Allen are dominate and leave Joshua Dobbs with his face regularly in the dirt.

The team buzz of the energy of the crowd and play with discipline. The first quarter is low scoring, but the Commanders get better as the game progresses and gradually dominate on both sides of the ball for a 31-10 home win that includes x2 rushing TDs and an opening day TD for both Jahan Dotson and TE Cole Turner.

Daron Payne takes the Game Ball home.