When the Washington Commanders revealed Marcus Mariota would start at quarterback after Jayden Daniels’ injury, the Seattle Seahawks had a plan. They believed new Washington offensive coordinator David Blough would feature a heavy dose of RPOs (Run-Pass Option).
Why? The 32-year-old Mariota is one of the most prominent quarterbacks using RPOs, dating back to his college career at Oregon, where he won the Heisman Trophy. He’s done a lot of that at times during his NFL career, too.
Under former Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, the Commanders would use a heavy dose of RPO concepts.
Blough had a different plan. The hallmark of any great coach is to break tendencies. Mariota, being an experienced, battle-tested quarterback, has seen
it all. He’s played in multiple offensive schemes. On Sunday, against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, Blough called a terrific game, and Mariota did his part, completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Commanders to a huge upset in a 33-31 win over Seattle.
Late in the game, with Washington clinging to the lead and needing a first down to clinch the game, Blough put the ball back in Mariota’s hands. On third-and-7 with 1:36 remaining, Blough called a vintage Mariota play, and Mariota kept it, running for nine yards for the first down. Game over.
Marcus Mariota just called game! @SEAvsWAS on FOX/FOX One
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2026
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A big-time call by Blough and flawless execution from Mariota.
After the game, Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence acknowledged that Washington had fooled them.
“Correct, yeah,” Lawrence said when asked whether he expected more RPOs from the Commanders. “Mariota is a big RPO quarterback. This game, we didn’t see it until the final play of the game. So, like I said, man, shout out to Washington, they came to play today.”
That’s a feather in the cap of Blough, who outsmarted Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, arguably the NFL’s top defensive mind.
Washington’s win snapped Seattle’s 12-game winning streak. Lawrence, again, tipped his hat to the winners.
“Any given Sunday. Shout out to the Commanders. They came out to play today, and we got our first loss in a while.”
Yes, the Commanders did come to play, and in defeating the heavily favored Seahawks, saved their season ahead of next week’s trip to London.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Seahawks star praises Washington: 'Commanders came to play'
