The Daily Slop – 28 September 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
ESPN
Marcus Mariota, in for hurt Jayden Daniels, leads Commanders to win in home opener
With a seven-hour flight awaiting them to London on Tuesday night ahead of a game against the Colts on Oct. 4, it was a necessary win. It also was a difficult
one with five starters, including Daniels, out because of injuries: linebacker Frankie Luvu, tight end Chig Okonkwo, right guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross.
“It’s one week,” Mariota said, “but it could be a stepping stone for us.”
Washington’s defense forced three turnovers, including a pick-six by backup linebacker Kain Medrano in the fourth quarter. The offense turned the other two turnovers into touchdowns. Mariota played a key role in each, finishing both drives with touchdown passes.
It remains uncertain how long Mariota — the Heisman winner in 2014 and No. 2 pick in 2015 — will start. Daniels, injured on the final play of the first half vs. Dallas, is considered week-to-week. There’s a chance Daniels, who won the Heisman in 2013 and was picked second in 2024, will accompany the team to London, but that wouldn’t necessarily mean he would play vs. the Colts.
So, Mariota could continue to be an important player. Two years ago, he relieved an injured Daniels in two games, leading Washington to wins. Last year, Mariota started eight games and played in three others, but posted only a 2-6 record as a starter in another injury-filled season for the organization.
But his teammates never lost confidence in him.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
More from ESPN:
The Commanders forced three turnovers, leading to three touchdowns — two by the offense and another on a pick-six by linebacker Kain Medrano. The offense capitalized on two short fields after a fumble and an interception, while quarterback Marcus Mariota did what was needed. He was smart with the ball, making quick throws and taking checkdowns to keep the chains moving. And he was aggressive when necessary, like on a tight-window throw to WR Trey Burks for his second touchdown. It was an unlikely win without quarterback Jayden Daniels, linebacker Frankie Luvu, tight end Chig Okonkwo, right guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross.
Trend to watch: Washington did not force any turnovers in its first two games, which continued an ugly trend: Only one team has forced fewer turnovers than the Commanders since 2024. But they harped on it all offseason, and the focus paid off Sunday. Can they sustain it? It helped that they played coverage much better than they did against Dallas in Week 2. But to get more, the front needs to generate more consistent pressure. It’ll help when they get blitzing linebacker Frankie Luvu back soon from a groin injury. — John Keim
To read more of this second ESPN article, CLICK HERE
Washington Post (paywall)
Marcus Mariota leads Commanders to upset of Super Bowl champion Seahawks
“We had to find a way to get a win,” offensive lineman Nick Allegretti said. “However it was, whatever way it was, we had to find a way.”
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota went 19 for 31 for 183 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions to efficiently fill Daniels’s shoes.
“I really believe this team has a chance to do some really, really good things,” Mariota said. “But I think guys in the locker room will definitely say that we are not satisfied yet.”
Washington’s defense gave up 437 yards and struggled to contain the Seahawks’ passing attack. And while the offense put up a lot of points, it rarely converted third downs and committed untimely penalties. One equalizer that helped cover up those mistakes: The Commanders won the turnover battle, 3-0, after entering the game with no takeaways.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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The Athletic (paywall)
In the NFL, everything can change in 7 days. Just ask the Commanders
Not so long ago — maybe 16, 17 hours or so — the Washington Commanders, having lost two division games and their franchise quarterback, in the first two weeks of the season, were a Dead Team Walking, felled by injuries and bereft of much belief outside their locker room. They hadn’t created an opponent turnover in what felt like months — and that was actually the case.
They had the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who had won 12 games in a row and hadn’t lost a real football game since last Nov. 16, coming to Northwest Stadium. They were without Jayden Daniels. And Seattle was getting its starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, back on the field.
Nothing much was riding on what happened here other than, maybe, Dan Quinn’s future.
Sunday, though, brought Commanders 33, Seahawks 31, in front of a very loud, hanging-on-the-edge-of-their-seats crowd. That it happened less than a year after the Seahawks had humiliated Washington on this very field, on “Sunday Night Football,” made the tale that much more improbable.
The season, hopelessly lost, is now salvageable. A win in London in … seven days (!), over the Indianapolis Colts, and the Commanders are 2-2 and breathing again — with Daniels’ return potentially coming sooner than expected.
Armageddon. Followed by the morning.
The Commanders now have to fly seven hours for their next “home” game, in London, against the Colts.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
More from The Athletic:
Washington’s coach showed last season that he’s not afraid to make moves if the standard isn’t met. On Sunday, he did the same with cornerback Mike Sainristil — though he didn’t bench him entirely. Veteran Rasul Douglas started and rotated with Fabian Moreau at corner throughout the game. Sainristil played the slot when the team used its nickel package.
Sainristil was targeted 10 times in coverage in the first two weeks and gave up eight catches for 153 yards, three touchdowns and a 153.8 quarterback rating against.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones preached communication and urgency, promising that the team’s play could not and would not stay at the level it was in the opening two weeks. And it didn’t. The Commanders’ defense was swarming for much of Sunday’s game, holding Seattle to 44 rushing yards
Defensive back Amik Robertson had a career day with four passes defended and a forced fumble. Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles did too, forcing and recovering a fumble, deflecting a deep pass intended for running back Jadarian Price and intercepting another intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
[Seattle RB Jadarian] Price was benched for much of the first half following his fumble, and the Seahawks rotated their trio of running backs without much success. Reserves Emanuel Wilson and George Holani combined for 24 yards on 12 carries. Price led the way with 15 yards on five attempts.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Instant analysis | Commanders upset Seahawks in “slugfest”
The Seahawks still had a good day from a statistical standpoint. Darnold threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba accounting for 128 yards and two of those scores. They had 28 first downs and hung 31 points on Washington’s defense. They also cut a nine-point Commanders lead down to just two following Medrano’s interception, moving 68 yards downfield in 66 seconds.
That doesn’t cover up the positives from the defense, though. Quinn said the Commanders knew Sunday’s game would be a “slugfest,” and the unit had the right punches when it mattered most. They held the Seahawks to just 44 yards on the ground and forced four punts. They had a goal line stand in the second quarter to keep the score 14-7, and Styles was an impact player on every level, playing a hand in two of the Commanders’ three takeaways.
Most importantly, it gave the Commanders’ offense, which arguably had the bigger challenge facing Seattle’s defense, plenty of opportunities. Marcus Mariota, who has stepped in as the starting quarterback while Jayden Daniels recovers from his elbow injury, directed the offense well, completing 61% of his passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns — his most in a game in four seasons.
The Commanders are heading to London for a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts hoping to get to .500. None of them, players or coaches, want to make a bigger deal out of the win than necessary. As Mariota said after the game, they need to put together several more days like that over the course of the season.
But there is undeniably a tension releasing from the team following the win against last year’s Super Bowl champions. It’s one win, but 1-2 sounds much better than 0-3.
“They both don’t sound great on paper,” Quinn said. “But they feel a lot different.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Roundtable
Two linebackers shine in Commanders win in the home opener
Styles finished tied for second on the team alongside Robertson and Quan Martin with four solo tackles, while he registered one quarterback hit and a pair of pass deflections. Styles was also initially credited with a forced fumble on the defense’s first takeaway before Robertson drew the credit, also a takeaway that the Commanders’ offense turned into a touchdown.
Yet Styles would be the first of two linebackers to record his first career NFL interception after Kain Medrano, in his first career snaps on defense, cut off Darnold’s passing lane to record the defense’s third and final takeaway, then returning it 50 yards for the game-sealing score in the closing minutes of the game.
Head coach Dan Quinn noted postgame that both Styles and Medrano, who finished with five total tackles and one quarterback hit, received game balls following the win.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
From Commanders.com:
Medrano, who has mostly occupied a special teams role since becoming a Commander two years ago, was ready when his number was called on defense today. Frankie Luvu has been out with an injury picked up in Week 1. Jordan Magee is on IR. In the first half, a collision forced Leo Chenal out of the game with a neck injury. Coming out of the locker room for the second half against the Seahawks, the Commanders were without three of their key contributors at the position.
Medrano was next man up. He took care of business mostly quietly, ensuring the defense kept up the intensity. Medrano made a few strong tackles and almost got a sack on Darnold. However, his biggest moment — the moment that earned him a game ball from Quinn — came in the fourth quarter. Momentum had swung Seattle’s way, and the visitors were chipping away at Washington’s lead. On second-and-15 and Seattle down by just three, Medrano read a Darnold pass to A.J. Barner and took it 50 yards into the end zone.
“They kept hitting those checkdowns a couple times. I had one or two missed tackles on some checkdowns, so I know they were gonna come back to it. Just didn’t know when, and they happened to come back to it, and I was in the right place at the right time,” Medrano said.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Athlon Sports
Seahawks defense couldn’t stem the tide of Commanders offense on Sunday
The defending champs ranked first in Defensive DVOA last season, and it could be said that through the first two games of the 2026 season — wins over the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals — the defense was even better.
In that two-game stretch, per Next Gen Stats, the Seahawks had one of just five defenses since 2010 to allow fewer than 20 points and fewer than 4.0 yards per play over their first two games of a season. They had not allowed a single explosive play in the passing game, and had nabbed three interceptions on five opponent attempts of 20 or more air yards.
[Marcus Mariota] did things to that Seattle defense nobody thought possible. In a 33-31 Commanders win that was also completely unexpected, Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.0.
To put that into perspective, the combined passer rating of every quarterback who faced that Seahawks defense from Week 1 of the 2025 season through Week 2 of the 2026 campaign? 77.8.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Riggo’s Rag
11 instant reactions from Commanders’ stunning upset over the Seahawks
Mike Sainristil’s role
After underperforming over the first two contests, patience was clearly wearing thinwith third-year cornerback Mike Sainristil. Everyone knew it, and the Commanders took decisive action to ensure he would not be a weak link against the Seahawks’ passing attack.
Sainristil was barely on the field. He played nickel, but his boundary responsibilities were nonexistent.
The Commanders deployed Rasul Douglas and even Fabian Moreau opposite Amik Robertson. It wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly more stable. And this is the clearest sign yet that Sainristil’s long-term future with the franchise is in grave peril.
And where he goes from here is anyone’s guess.
Commanders’ discipline issues pre-snap
Washington was much more competitive than anyone expected at the start of the game. However, the same pre-snap discipline issues that have blighted them in recent years held them back.
The offensive line had clear timing issues. Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s long touchdown run was brought back, which felt like a pendulum-swinging moment. Defense was a little better, but there were also frustrating infringements.
The Commanders shot themselves in the foot too many times. Most of these issues were correctable, which made it even more frustrating. And with Washington’s margins so fine this season, things cannot continue like this much longer.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
7 Winners, 5 Losers From the Commanders’ 33-31 Win Over the Seahawks
Rachaad White
Rachaad White didn’t put up huge numbers, but he made some big plays. He caught Washington’s first touchdown of the game, then came up with a 19-yard run on third-and-nine with less than two minutes left. That run helped keep Seattle from getting the ball back with a chance to win it.
Odafe Oweh
Odafe Oweh didn’t get a sack, but he still found a way to affect the game. He finished with two quarterback hits, and his pressure on Sam Darnold helped lead to Kain Medrano’s pick-six in the fourth quarter. That was about as big a pressure as Washington could have asked for.
Amik Robertson
Amik Robertson was all over the field Sunday. He finished with six tackles, four pass breakups, and forced the fumble that gave Washington its first takeaway of the season. Clearly, he got the message from Daronte Jones that the Commanders were going to have to ride his play.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Washington Post (paywall)
The Commanders couldn’t buy a turnover; bring on the Super Bowl champion!
Washington upset Seattle with the help of two interceptions and a tone-setting fumble recovery
A unit that was among the few in the NFL to not register a turnover in the first two games of the season — both Washington losses — notched three Sunday. None was bigger than backup linebacker Kain Medrano’s late interception return for a touchdown that provided the last of Washington’s 33 points and sent the Northwest Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Earlier in the second half, rookie linebacker Sonny Styles grabbed an interception after a Darnold pass deflected off the helmet of onrushing defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. and bounced high in the air. When Styles leaped for the pick and snared it in a crowd, it was just one of many moments when he showed off the athleticism that helped make him the seventh pick in this year’s draft.
Styles was also credited with a forced fumble, as was cornerback Amik Robertson, who punched the ball out of Price’s hands early in the first quarter. That one was recovered by Settle deep in Seahawks territory, leading to the game’s first score and a 7-0 Washington lead that may have helped instill confidence against the reigning Super Bowl champion.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Just for reference
The Athletic (paywall)
This was the betting advice published ahead of Sunday’s game
Seahawks at Commanders
Kostos’ picks
- Straight-up: Seahawks
Bearman’s stats and trends
- Seahawks’ stalwart defense:
- They are the first team since 2006 to not allow a play of 20 or more yards through two weeks.
- They are allowing a league-low 3.7 yards per play, far below the league average of 5.4.
- Spread trend: Seattle was 5-0 ATS when playing in the Eastern Time Zone last season and has covered the past seven games in this spot.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Photos
Podcasts & videos
COMMANDERS KNOCK OFF SEAHAWKS! | Breaking Down The Win On Gameday LIVE | NFL Week 3
Beltway Football – Commanders Postgame: Defense, Marcus Mariota lead stunning upset win vs. Seahawks
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys lose to Ravens in Brazil thanks to last-second, costly mistake
The Cowboys got caught not ready for the final 7 seconds of the game and the Ravens proved to be the better team. There really is no other way to say it.
The Cowboys are now 1-2 on the season and have to get ready to take on a winless Houston Texans team next week.
For now though… everything hurts.
The Cowboys wound up settling for a Brandon Aubrey field goal that tied things up at 31-31 with just 7 seconds left.
This game [was headed for overtime].
…or so we thought.
The Cowboys clearly relaxed as they assumed the Ravens were content to go to overtime, too. With 7 seconds left though, Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for a 27-yard gain and called timeout with a single second left. Everyone was bewildered. Clearly the Cowboys were not expecting that.
Ravens kicker Tyler Loop drained a 56-yard field goal to win it 34-31.
Unbelievable.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Big Blue View
Giants-Titans ‘winners and losers’: Jevon Holland the hero as New York survives
Jevon Holland — The veteran safety saved the Giants from what looked like it was about to be a 2025-style fourth-quarter meltdown on Sunday. With the Titans at the Giants’ 7-yard line and threatening to take the lead, Holland intercepted a horrible Cam Ward pass in the end zone to rescue the Giants.
Jameis Winston — The Giants won, and Winston did not make any major mistakes. He did little, though, to quell the groundswell of speculation that the Giants will not only be looking to bring in at least one more backup quarterback as soon as possible, but could be looking for someone who might eventually be able to take the reigns from Winston.
Winston finished 14 of 22 for 118 yards with — critically — no turnovers. He made a couple of big throws for first downs, and used his legs on a 15-yard scramble. The Giants got by with him.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
From ESPN:
I don’t think you can draw very many conclusions from what we saw Sunday. The Giants ran the ball fine, which they’ll have to continue to do, but the run game won’t be as dynamic without the threat of Dart’s legs. Winston has been in the league for 12 seasons now. There is no mystery about the type of player he is. He’ll have one or two brilliant games followed by classic postgame on-field interviews. He’ll have games where he throws the ball to the other team all day.
He’s settled into a role as an excellent backup and mentor, but those guys aren’t supposed to give you 15 games. They’re supposed to get you through three or four until the starter comes back. Winning on Sunday shouldn’t change whatever the Giants are doing to find another QB option, and I don’t believe it will.
To read more of this ESPN article, CLICK HERE
Upcoming opponent – Colts
Commanders next game is in London vs Indianapolis at 9:30 am ET on Sunday
Stampede Blue
Colts-Commanders opening odds: The Colts are coming!
The Indianapolis Colts are bound for Europe again. After winning in Berlin, the Colts finally got off their nine-game losing streak. They are hoping to continue their international success and build a winning streak to get to .500. FanDuel Sportsbook is liking the Colts with a 3.5-point advantage in the spread.
The current money line is -180, and the over/under starts at 47.5.
[Bill-in-Bangkok: I’m stunned that the Colts are favored in this game; they squeezed out a low-scoring 2-point win against the now 0-3 Texans while Washington took the world champion Seahawks to the woodshed, ending a 12-game Seattle winning streak. I expect this line will move before the weekend. In my mind, the Commanders should be favored. If I were a betting man (I’m not), I’d be rushing to place a bet with the good guys getting 3.5 points.]
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Stampede Blue
Spencer Shrader’s heroics lifts Colts past Texans, snapping NFL’s worst losing skid
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans 19-17 inside Lucas Oil Stadium, snapping a nine-game winless drought dating back to last October and a five-game drought to their divisional rivals. Kicker Spencer Shrader delivered a career performance with four made field goals, including a much needed career-long 58-yarder before halftime, plus a 53-yarder to win the game in the final seconds.
For nearly 60 minutes, the Colts made the Texans play their game. Then, just when the game started to slip away, they found one more way to win it as Shrader drilled a 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining to end the NFL’s worst losing streak dating to last season.
The Colts will travel to London next week to face the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the early kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m on NFL Network.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Stampede Blue
Colts fans are, rightfully, depressed about their team
Offensively, the Colts rank tied for 10th in most points scored at 26.5 average points scored through two games. However, on defense, they rank dead last at 32nd, having surrendered a whopping 37.0 points per game respectively.
Indianapolis has surrendered back-to-back outing of allowing 500+ offensive yards, which is a streak they assuredly would like to snap with their AFC South rival, the Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud coming to town.
Right now, it’s both the Colts passing and run defense which have been problematic, which makes it hard to shore up either side of the ball on short notice right now. In particular, new starting defensive end Arden Key has struggled in run defense, the linebackers have collectively struggled, and opposing passers are picking on debuting cornerback Justin Walley in the slot. The Colts could also use more pass rushing as a unit as a whole.
Only 15% of Colts fans are confident that the team is headed in the right direction (and it’s hard to blame them!)
With top football lieutenants, longtime general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, already on the hot seat entering the season, where “the sense of urgency has never been higher” was already proclaimed from team ownership, and those seats have only gotten hotter
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Stampede Blue
Colts officially place WR Alec Pierce on IR and add wideout reinforcements to active roster
The Indianapolis Colts announced on Saturday that wideout Alec Pierce, as expected and reported earlier in the week, has been placed on injured reserve—which means he’ll miss at minimum, the team’s next four games.
Having recently returned from his ankle/heel injury that cost him largely all of the offseason, Pierce re-injured the ankle/heel in the late first quarterback last Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was unable to place his body weight on his latest injury and went to the medical blue tent along the sidelines, before being carted off the field. Pierce was seen post-game in a medical boot and on crutches within the player concourses.
As a potential Pierce interim replacement, the Colts promoted Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from their practice squad for Sunday and signed fellow wideout and special teams returnman Anthony Gould respectively.
As you may recall, the Colts signed wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (6,’2”, 211 pounds) as their original big bodied Michael Pittman Jr. possession wideout earlier this past offseason. Even though Westbrook-Ikhine flashed at times during training camp, the Colts ultimately signed veteran wideout Keenan Allen late in training camp, which made Westbrook-Ikhine’s skill-set a bit redundant.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane suffers knee injury vs. Chiefs
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane’s outlook “doesn’t sound very optimistic” after he was forced out of the team’s game Sunday with a knee injury.
Achane took his third rushing attempt of the game 11 yards around the left end but was tackled awkwardly by Kansas City Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman. He was slow to leave the field after the tackle and was eventually escorted to the blue medical tent under his own power. The Pro Bowler ultimately left the tent after a few minutes and was taken to the locker room for additional testing.
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He did not return to the sideline in the first half but was seen on the Dolphins’ sideline after halftime without his shoulder pads or helmet on.
After the game, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said the team is still gathering information on its star running back’s injury but admitted that things did not look promising.
“To be very honest with you, it does not sound very optimistic at this moment,” Hafley said. “But I can’t give you any other details until I have them.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL.com
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield suffered dislocated right thumb in loss to Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Vikings, head coach Todd Bowles said.
Bowles told reporters that Mayfield will undergo an MRI on Monday and added that X-rays did not show a fracture.
Mayfield was 17 of 34 for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception when he left the game.
Undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels replaced Mayfield for the final series.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Pro Football Talk
Kirk Cousins throws 3 TDs, Raiders move to 3-0 with 35-27 victory over Saints
After entering the fourth quarter down 27-22, Las Vegas picked up four takeaways in the final period to defeat New Orleans 35-27.
While the Raiders held a 16-13 lead at halftime, the Saints were able to score twice in quick succession in the third quarter to ostensibly take control of the game. Tyler Shough threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson before the Raiders fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Shough then connected with Noah Fant for a 16-yard score to put New Orleans up 27-16 with 5:46 left in the third quarter.
But it was all Las Vegas from there. Mike Washington scored on a 36-yard touchdown run to cap a quick, five-play drive. The two-point conversion failed, keeping the score at 27-22, New Orleans.
That’s when the turnovers began
At 3-0, the Raiders will host an AFC West showdown with the fellow 3-0 Chiefs next weekend.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Seahawks
Field Gulls
Seattle fans in denial; still think they should have won on Sunday afternoon because they were betting favorites
Well, the Seattle Seahawks weren’t going to win every game. They were also going to inevitably lose to a bad team, and to suggest Mike Macdonald would be immune to this would smack of arrogance [Bill-in-Bangkok: Speaking of “arrogance”, did someone say “bad team”?]. Almost every contending team, including teams coached by all-time greats over the years, manage to throw up a clunker at least once in a season. We accept this in every other sport but football.
With that said, I did not think they would lose this game to the Washington Commanders. It was a deceptive 33-31 shootout loss given how many short drives the Commanders scored [BiB: something to do with 3 defensive takeaways], but it’s still a loss that is about as disappointing as any I can recall in the Mike Macdonald era.
The run blocking, as a whole, was abysmal
The Seahawks miss Anthony Bradford, perhaps? I don’t know yet, because the Commanders run D has actually been good for two straight games and the Seahawks ran over the Arizona Cardinals last week without Bradford. But they are struggling in short-yardage in the low red zone, and are not resetting the line of scrimmage in their favor. I’ve said it for two straight weeks, but I am concerned about Abe Lucas’ ability to anchor and move laterally. The worst runs seem to come on the right side of the field. Emanuel Wilson and George Holani didn’t offer up anything more than Price on the ground, and Wilson’s plodding style is more exposed when he can’t immediately go north-south.
A grand total of 39 yards on 17 carries from the running backs. That ain’t going to get it done.
The edge rushers don’t get home
Derick Hall recorded a sack but wasn’t noticeable in getting after Mariota. DeMarcus Lawrence at least had three QB hits, but it was otherwise a game in which neither Uchenna Nwosu nor Dante Fowler Jr made much of an impact. Leonard Williams was his usual excellent self, but Seattle needs more from its edges and not just the interior.
David Blough out-foxed Mike Macdonald on those last two third down plays. The blitz was beaten by Rachaad White running to the outside, while Mariota pulled on a keeper for the first time all game and secured the dagger. I’m oddly not too worried about this loss. It’s a bad one, but it took a lot for Seattle to still lose by two points on the road [BiB: Keep telling yourself this; Seattle did not have the lead for a single second in this game. Washington beat Seattle solidly on offense, defense and special teams].
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Field Gulls
Seahawks-Commanders score: Takeaways lead Commanders to an outstanding win
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 [BiB: ah, now they wanna plead injuries; where was that whining excuse-making before the game?]) will struggle when the average starting field position is repeatedly favorable for the other team [BiB: That field position was the result of defensive turnovers, outstanding punting & coverage by Washington, and outstanding kickoff & punt return game by Washington; it wasn’t coincidence, magic, or luck].
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Field Gulls
Seattle fans think that the Seahawks were “in a position to potentially win”
The offense couldn’t move the ball on the ground and turned the ball over three times. On defense, the Dark Side bent and broke, giving up three TDs and key third down conversions with the game on the line. Special teams isn’t getting off the hook, as Jason Myers kicked the ball out of bounds directly after Seattle tied the game, immediately setting Washington up near FG range.
This game feels eerily similar to all three of the Seahawks losses last season particularly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. They were undermanned in the secondary, played like crap on defense, turned the ball over, and were still in position to potentially win the game. Same thing against the Commanders. [BiB: When I read this, I had to go back and check the play-by-play. It turns out that the Seahawks were down by 9 points on their last offensive possession. Since there are no 10-point plays, Seattle was NEVER in a position to win this game. They never had the lead. Not. for. one. single. second. of. the. game.]
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
4 winners & 3 losers from Seahawks pathetic loss to Commanders
Loser: Jadarian Price, RB
Seattle was by far the better team in this one [BiB: I mean, jeez… did they watch the same game I did? The one where they never once had the lead and had to fly back to the west coast with the “L”?], meaning the Commanders would need them to hurt themselves to stand a chance. That happened early when rookie running back Jadarian Price lost a fumble deep in Seahawks’ territory. Price lost the ball at the 21-yard line [BiB: I mean, he didn’t just drop the ball; Amik Robertson made a great play to punch it out of his arms], giving Washington a short field. They took advantage by scoring a quick touchdown, with Marcus Mariota hititng Rachaad White for a six-yard score.
Loser: Emanuel Wilson, RB
Emanuel Wilson had a breakout performance last week and was asked to step up against Washington after Price’s early fumble. Wilson didn’t answer the call, recording just 14 yards on nine attempts. The inability to get the run game going was a major issue for the Seahawks and Wilson was a main part of the problem.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
For Discussion
The Athletic (paywall)
Will the real Drake Maye please stand up?
Jones: The Patriots keep waiting for the Maye of old to return, but for that to happen, the third-year quarterback is going to have to regain the poise and patience with which he executed for much of his first two NFL seasons. During that span, Maye frequently drew praise for his decision-making and ball security. But he now looks like he’s forcing things rather than taking what the defense gives him. And it feels like once he makes one mistake, things snowball. Can Maye regain his MVP form? He could. These problems are all mental, not physical. Will he? Hard to say. It might require help from offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the form of a more simplified approach that will take things off Maye’s plate. But a rebound remains possible.
Nguyen: Last season, the Patriots only played one team that finished in the top 10 of points allowed per drive and then faced four defenses that finished in the top 10 in the playoffs and struggled to score. This season, they’ve started with three top defenses and haven’t played well. They rank 30th in rushing success rate, they can’t pass block, and their receivers are among the worst in the league without Brown. Maye is pressing and turning the ball over and missing passes he usually makes.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
More from The Athletic:
Two weeks ago, Maye played the worst game of his NFL career in the season opener, a Super Bowl rematch with the Seattle Seahawks that fell flat again. Now, before October has even arrived, Maye was left to reflect on another new low and a new worst game.
This one, thanks to two interceptions and two fumbles (one lost), would feel like rock bottom if it wasn’t so unclear how things are going to get better. The Patriots head to Buffalo next week. Wide receiver A.J. Brown is out at least a couple more weeks. Injuries are piling up on the offensive line. They can’t run the ball.
And now the player who was the Patriots’ biggest source of optimism is suddenly their biggest concern.
“Just unacceptable,” Maye called Sunday’s performance.
To read more of this 2nd article from The Athletic, CLICK HERE
