Not having some prominent pass catchers available could have dented the Washington Commanders' chances in recent weeks. However, they've managed to do just fine without the likes of wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown to depend on.
There is a big reason why. One could point to Washington's league-leading rushing attack or the schematic adjustments made by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as essential factors. Even so, the rapid emergence of second-year pro Luke McCaffrey has arguably been the most significant positive of all.
When the Commanders needed him most, McCaffrey stepped up.