The Seattle Seahawks (2-1), for whatever reason, cannot solve Marcus Mariota regardless of which team he’s playing for. Mariota is now 3-0 lifetime as a starter against Seattle, with his other wins coming as a member of the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.
In the most disappointing loss arguably of the entire Mike Macdonald era, three turnovers led to 21 Washington Commanders points, and Dan Quinn was able to get the better of his former team in a 33-31 upset victory. Sam Darnold threw four touchdown
passes in his return to action, but also had a costly pick-six that put the Seahawks down nine late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle’s winning streak is over at 12, and the champs have some issues to figure out as far as the run game and the low red zone. The defense actually held Washington to only 258 yards and four yards per play, but even elite defenses (especially without two starting safeties) will struggle when the average starting field position is repeatedly favorable for the other team.
Seahawks vs. Commanders 1st half recap
The Seahawks started on offense and gained a first down through Jadarian Price, but that’s all. Sam Darnold was nearly picked on his first pass but completed his second to Rashid Shaheed for 10 yards. Michael Dickson had his first touchback of the season on a 4th-and-4 punt. Washington punted it right back after a 3-and-out.
Jadarian Price lost a fumble last week and lost one on the first play of Seattle’s second series. Can’t have that happening whether it’s a rainy day or not. The Commanders recovered just outside the red zone. Three plays later, Rachaad White made a good catch past a diving Drake Thomas for the game’s first touchdown. 7-0 Commanders.
The Seahawks struggles continued on offense with a three-and-out, but the league’s best defense was having some major troubles. A 3rd and 11 was converted to Terry McLaurin on a rare coverage bust. Mariota audibled to a Bill Croskey-Merritt handoff, and the second-year back took it 48 yards for the score. An illegal formation, however, nullified the TD. Dyami Brown had a 23-yard catch on the ensuing play, only for that to be nullified by expedited review when his second foot was found to be out of bounds. Seattle got the ball back and finally got to work. Who do you think they went to? Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught three passes for 32 yards and drew a pass interference penalty. Seattle’s 90-yard touchdown drive was capped off by a JSN TD at the 1-yard line. Hat tips to A.J. Barner and Brady Russell for their own explosive plays in the pass game. 7-7.
After the two teams traded punts, the Commanders retook the lead off of yet another short field. Uchenna Nwosu nearly picked off Mariota when he dropped into coverage, and that dropped pick proved costly. Jaylin Lane took a screen pass 21 yards for the first explosive pass allowed by Seattle all season. Treylon Burks beat A.J. Finley for the go-ahead touchdown. 14-7 Commanders.
Sam Darnold was dealing to Cooper Kupp, A.J. Barner, and Tory Horton for big gains. The Seahawks once again had a goal-to-go situation and again struggled to finish off the job. Three straight passes at the two-yard line all fell incomplete for a turnover on downs. Washington actually had a -1 yard drive while backed up and had to punt it back to Seattle. Darnold couldn’t do a whole lot (in large part due to the excellent play by Amik Robertson), but there was enough for Myers to hit a 57-yard field goal. 14-10 Commanders.
A touchback gave the Commanders the ball at their 35, and Mariota hit an open Terry McLaurin for 18 yards. Another short throw put Washington in field goal range, and rookie Drew Stevens matched Myers with his own 57-yarder to end the half. 17-10 Commanders.
Seahawks vs. Commanders 2nd half recap
Marcus Mariota could’ve hit a huge play to rookie Antonio Williams deep down the field. Ernest Jones IV was in coverage and stayed in phase with Williams, who got his hands on the ball but dropped it. Big stop and a three-and-out by the Commanders offense to start the half.
Disaster struck on Seattle’s opening drive, as Sam Darnold’s pass hit the helmet of Tim Settle and settled (heh heh, get it?) into the arms of the outstanding rookie Sonny Styles.
Another costly turnover led to another Commanders touchdown. Terry McLaurin beat Josh Jobe on a typically brilliant McLaurin catch. 24-10 Commanders.
Sam Darnold went 5/5 on what was essentially a must-score drive for the reigning Super Bowl champions. Eric Saubert, for the time being, has a receiving touchdown. This might get overturned into a fumble recovery TD after the ball was ripped away from him at the goal line. He recovered it so it’s a score either way, but it’s Saubert’s first touchdown since 2024. 24-17 Commanders.
It was another exchange of punts and sloppy penalties through the end of the third quarter. Seattle struggled to gain any traction in the run game. They could sure as hell throw the ball, and Sam Darnold was in a zone. He was escaping pressure in the pocket and his best play was arguably an incomplete pass, as he avoided a sack and scrambled to find Rashid Shaheed, who was whacked for a roughness penalty. Shaheed didn’t catch the ball on review but the penalty was upheld.
After Smith-Njigba hit a double pass to George Holani on a trick play, Darnold took over the normal quarterback duties. Normal service resumed when it’s Sam to JSN for a tying touchdown!
A kickoff short of the landing zone resulted in another short-ish field for Washington. Terry McLaurin was unable to bring in a catch on third down, but A.J. Finley was tagged for a very harsh personal foul penalty for a helmet shot. McLaurin lowered his helmet and Finley didn’t initiate any contact. McLaurin would feature on a 4th and 1 conversion on a perfect Mariota pass. Ernest Jones made a critical, possible touchdown-saving tackle on Mariota on the red zone to set up a Drew Stevens field goal. The rookie converted to make it 27-24 Commanders with 4:34 to go.
Welp. Sam Darnold nearly threw a pick on a double coverage shot to Rashid Shaheed. He threw a pick-six to Kain Medrano, who replaced the injured Leo Chanal in the first half. The celebration penalty led to a longer PAT and a miss, but it’s still 33-24 Commanders.
Some horrendous defense and dominant play by Jaxon Smith-Njigba meant that the Commanders allowed Seattle free access to the end zone in next to no time. Cooper Kupp was wide open for his first touchdown of the season. 33-31 Commanders with only 2:51 to go.
A second down incomplete pass gave Seattle a chance to get the ball back quickly and maybe burn one timeout at most. Rachaad White beat Drake Thomas to the edge and got an explosive run for a crucial first down. Mariota converted on a read-option keeper on the next third down to secure victory. 33-31 Commanders Final.
Full Seahawks vs. Commanders box score
Seahawks Injury Report
- NB Nick Emmanwori had a hamstring injury in the second quarter but returned to the game.
- WR/KR Rashid Shaheed limped off the field after a kick return in the fourth quarter. He came back into the game and then left on the subsequent return.
Next week’s opponent
The Seahawks return home for a stretch of five games at Lumen Field over the next six weeks, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers (0-3) on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:25 pm PT on CBS.
