The Washington Commanders have an opportunity to build momentum when they host the Los Angeles Rams at Northwest Stadium this Sunday.

Los Angeles presents a difficult test, but Washington enters the matchup fresh off a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. It took the team a little time to shake off the bye-week rust, but they didn't let the Eagles score past the first quarter, which bodes well for their upcoming game.

For a team trying to turn its season around, that performance supplied several reasons to believe another win is within reach. Let’s take a look at three reasons for optimism from this Week 9 matchup.

Jayden Daniels gives Washington a chance to build on its offensive progress

Jayden Daniels did enough against Philadelphia to remind Washington how much its offense can accomplish with him directing it. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception in the victory. Treylon Burks caught three passes for 81 yards, including a 53-yard gain that showed Washington’s ability to create an explosive play.

Daniels also helped engineer a touchdown drive, completing five of six throws and adding a 14-yard scramble before finding Stefon Diggs for an eight-yard score. That sequence showed the pressure his passing and mobility can put on a defense.

Against the Rams, sustaining that kind of rhythm would help Washington avoid relying on isolated big plays to move the ball. Daniels has room to improve his completion rate from last week, but the scoring drive offers a tangible example of what the offense can build on.

The running game offers a practical way to attack Los Angeles

Washington has a productive rushing attack to lean on against a challenging Rams defense. The Commanders enter the matchup ninth in the NFL with 126.6 rushing yards per game, while Los Angeles ranks 14th against the run, allowing 109.3 yards per game.

Rachaad White supplied an encouraging performance against Philadelphia, gaining 55 yards and scoring a touchdown on 11 carries. His 33-yard burst showed how one successful run can quickly change Washington’s field position. The Commanders finished that game with 135 rushing yards, demonstrating that they could generate offense beyond Daniels’ passing production.

A steady ground game could create more manageable third downs and make play-action more effective. It would also give Washington a way to extend possessions and limit opportunities for Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense.

Washington’s defense is showing it can produce game-changing plays

The Commanders’ defense delivered a performance against Philadelphia that offers encouragement heading into a tougher assignment. They recorded five sacks, including one that produced a fumble recovery deep in Eagles territory. Rasul Douglas also intercepted a fourth-down pass, helping the Commanders finish a game in which they scored 27 unanswered points.

Those disruptive moments fit a broader strength: Washington enters this matchup tied for the league lead with a plus-seven turnover differential, while Los Angeles sits at minus-four. That gap offers a plausible route to an upset if the Commanders can protect the ball and capitalize on their defensive opportunities. Stafford will demand disciplined pressure, and Washington cannot assume last week’s sack total will carry over. Still, the combination of a productive recent pass rush and a favorable season-long turnover margin gives the Commanders a concrete reason to be confident.