Game Recap Week 8 – Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs

October 28, 2025

By Noonefromtampa

Chiefs Walk Over Commanders in Second Half to Win 28-7

First Quarter

The Chiefs won the toss and deferred to the second half. Luke McCaffrey returned the opening kickoff 37 yards out to the Washington 43 yard line. The series started with a Marcus Mariota pass to Deebo Samuel for 6 yards. Mariota picked up 3 yards on a design run and Jacory Croskey-Merritt picked up the first down with a 3 yard run.  The Commanders mixed up runs and passes to move the ball into Chiefs territory down to their 18 yard line. Samuel then allowed a pass to bounce off of him and it was intercepted by Mike Danna and returned out to the KC 32.

Isiah Pacheco ran for 3 yards to start the Chiefs drive and was stopped by Javon Kinlaw. After a sack of Partick Mahomes by Jacob Martin, Mahomes ran for 9 yards. After picking up the first down on fourth and one, Mahomes hit Xavier Worthy for 27 yards on blown coverage by Trey Amos. Marshon Lattimore stopped the drive two plays later with an interception of a throw at Hollywood Brown at the 7 yard line.

Washington was able to march down the field again with the big play provided by Jeremy McNichols, who caught a checkdown and took it for 24 yards. Unfortunately, several plays later, the Commanders turned it over on downs when Zach Ertz was ruled five inches short of the first down on an electronic measurement.

Jeremy Reaves tackled Rashee Rice for a 4 yard loss on a screen play. Rice caught a 10 yard pass over the middle to end the quarter.

Second Quarter

JuJu Smith-Schuster got the first down with a 5 yard catch. Mahomes ran for 7 yards and then Reaves tackled Travis Kelce for a 1 yard loss. Kelce then deflected a pass which was intercepted by Bobbn̈ny Wagner.

John Bates caught a pass for 22 yards. Mariota ran for 8 yards, but the Commanders picked up only one more yard. On fourth down Mariota overthrew Terry McLaurin, who broke off the route.

After the turnover on downs, Kansas City ran 7 times for 30 yards. Mixed in where two passes to Kelce for 11 yards and 31 yards. Kareem Hunt scored from the one and the extra point was good for a 7-0 Chiefs lead.

Jaylin Lane returned the kickoff 31 yards out to the Washington 34 yard line. After missing a block that led to a no gain, Ben Sinnott caught a checkdown and went up field for 22 yards. After two runs that gain 5 yards, on third down Mariota hit McNichols again, this time for 19 yards. Mariota gained no yards on the last play before the two-minute warning. McNichols caught a screen pass for 10 yards and the first down.  After a Chiefs timeout, Mariota ran another keeper, again for no gain. Mariota scrambled on the next play and tried to hit Samuel, but it was ruled incomplete when the ball was bobbled out of bounds. Mariota threw a great corner route which Terry McLaurin caught for an apparent touchdown but was ruled incomplete on the field. It was reversed by review and Matthew Wright got the extra point to tie the game at seven apiece.

With 58 seconds on the clock, Kansas City was called for holding on the kickoff return which them up to their won 25. Mahomes scrambled for 15 yards anìd Kelce caught a 10 yard pass. The Chiefs took ìtheir last time out at the 24 second mark. Kinlaw put pressure on Mahomes which made the throw go incomplete. Amos broke up a pass to Worthy and then Mahomes was called for intentional grounding with a 10-second runoff which ended the half.

Third Quarter

Despite a hold on the kickoff return, Kansas Ciry moved the ball well. It avoided a third and long with a Quan Martin unnecessary roughness penalty for 15 yards. Then Martin came off Kelce who caught and ran for 38 yards before being tackled by Mike Sainristil at the Washington 9 yard line. After gaining 7 yards, having offsetting penalties, Mahomes found Hunt for a 2 yard touchdown. The extra point was good for a 14-7 Chiefs lead.

Lane mishandled the kickoff and the ball went out of bounds at the one yard line. After a 2 yard run by Croskey-Merritt, Mariota found McLaurin for 18 yards over the middle. After a 5-yard run by Croskey-Merritt and two incompletions, Tress Way got his first punt of the night.

Pacheco started the next drive off with a 10 yard run and the Smith-Schuster had a 24-yard reception. Rice has catches of 15 yards and 9 yards during the drive which was capped by a 10 yard Kelce touchdown. The added extra point made it a 21-7 lead.

On the Commanders’ next drive, they had a 25 yard reception by McLaurin but not much else. A ten yard loss on a sack which looked like it was due to a blocking mix-up endrd the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Way punted again to the KC 6 where it was fair caught. Worthy had a 9 yard catch and Hunt ran for 11 yards. A holding penalty, another Martin sack and a taunting penalty didn’t slow the Chiefs down much. Pacheo ran for 13 yards and two plays later Noah Gary had a 15 yard catch. Hunt carried it for 8 yards and Rice picked up 11 yards for another first down at the Washington 20 yard line. After a 2 yard run by Pacheo, Mahomes found Rice on Wagner for an 18 yard touchdown. The Chiefs took a 28-7 lead.

Washington went three and out with another Way punt on their next drive.

Newton returned to the game and sacked Mahome but was called for unnecessary roughness, making the sack a 4 yard gain for KC. After a no gain rushing attempt, Worthy picked up 11 yards and first down. After a short gain, Creed Humphrey was called for holding backing the Chiefs up 5 yards. Hunt ran for 5 yards, putting Kansas City in a third and nine. After a Chiefs time out, Mahomes hit Rice for 3 yards forcing their first punt.

Lane returned the punt 15 yards to the Commanders 20 yard line. George Karlaftis tipped the pass away on first down. Ertz caught a 5 yard pass to take the clock to the two-minute warning. The Chiefs jumped offside giving Washinton a first down. Washinton gained 13 more yards before Mariota threw another interception, and the Chiefs took the kneel down to end the game.

Thoughts

Washington played one good half against the Chiefs, but the Chiefs stopped making mistakes and Washington did not. Andy Reid made some great halftime adjustments; Dan Quinn did not.

The injuries also continued to pile up with Laremy Tunsil, Johnny Newton, Javon Kinlaw and Terry McLaurin missing time during the game with injuries.

The zone coverage mistakes continue to happen. Mahomes and his running ability forced Washington out of a lot of man coverages they played in the first half.