It's fair to say the 2026 season hasn't started the way the Washington Commanders hoped.
Not only is the team sitting at 0-2, but star quarterback Jayden Daniels is once again hurt. We don’t know how long Daniels will be out, but we do know he'll miss at least Week 3. This is unfortunate because the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are coming to town.
Even with a healthy team, beating the Seahawks would take a perfect performance. Marcus Mariota did look solid last weekend, so we’ll see what the veteran can pull off. Now, let’s identify the four keys to a Commanders’ victory in Week 3.
Marcus Mariota has to be efficient
In relief of Daniels in Week 2, Mariota did what he could. The veteran threw for 111 yards and one touchdown, and could have had another if not for a terrible
call.
Mariota can be prone to turnovers, though, and that cannot happen in Week 3. The Seahawks are just too good to be given extra opportunities. If Mariota takes care of the ball, makes the routine throws, and extends some plays with his legs, the Commanders have a chance.
Finally get some consistency on the ground
The Seahawks defense is elite at everything, to be honest. They don’t give up many yards at all, but their run defense is more gettable than their pass defense is. If the Commanders are going to have any success, they’ll have to run the ball.
Over two games, Bill Croskey-Merritt hasn't been consistent enough. The running back is averaging fewer than four yards per attempt. Rachaad White, meanwhile, has only been given 14 carries. If there’s weird rotation again and neither back gets into a rhythm, it’s hard to imagine the Commanders having much success.
Do whatever you have to do to stop Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in football. Through just two games, the star has 17 catches for 277 yards and four touchdowns. It’s just absurd what Smith-Njigba is able to do, and he can easily take over a game by himself.
If Mike Sainristil somehow gets put on an island with JSN, it’ll be so ugly I don’t think it will be legal to be shown on television. Smith-Njigba is so clearly the best weapon on the team; the Commanders just have to shadow him with two defenders all day long.
Don’t beat yourself
The Seahawks enter this game tied for the league’s best turnover differential. The Commanders, meanwhile, have a negative turnover differential, which means the Seahawks WILL take advantage of the Commanders’ mistakes.
Nobody would argue the Commanders have a roster as talented as the Seahawks'. That means the Commanders have to play clean. The Seahawks will do plenty to win the game without the Commanders helping them. It’s hard to imagine a Commanders win if the Commanders don’t win the turnover battle.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 4 keys to a Commanders' victory over the Seahawks in Week 3
