Almost everyone penciled in the Washington Commanders’ Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks as a loss. Given that the Seahawks had won 12 straight games and were the defending Super Bowl champions, while the Commanders were 0-2 and missing several starters, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, it made sense.
Marcus Mariota had other plans. The 12th-year veteran quarterback was starting his ninth game for the Commanders in place of Daniels since 2024, and while he understood what he was up against, he was more than ready.
After rookie linebacker Sonny Styles forced a fumble on Seattle’s first possession, Mariota found running back Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown. When the Seahawks responded, Mariota did too, finding wide receiver Treylon
Burks for an 11-yard touchdown. It was an absolute dart from Mariota.
Despite the Commanders being outgained on the day, Mariota kept his team in command for much of the game. In the third quarter, Mariota threw his third touchdown of the day, this time to Terry McLaurin, giving the Commanders a 24-10 lead.
Seattle fought back. Mariota kept responding. In the end, Mariota finished the day completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. He did not turn the ball over, and the Commanders won the turnover battle 3-0.
With the game on the line late, Washington needed a first down. The Seahawks had burned their final timeout with the Commanders facing a third-and-7. Offensive coordinator David Blough called a zone read, and instead of handing it off, Mariota kept it and ran for nine yards to the Seattle 35-yard line. Commanders fans exhaled. Game over, Washington wins 33-31.
On Friday, Mariota was named a permanent captain for the season, a rare occurrence for a backup quarterback. That’s how much his coaches and teammates love Mariota. Washington players always felt like they could win with Mariota.
How good was Mariota? He finished the game with a 110.0 quarterback rating and a 61.8 QBR (ESPN). Check out this stat from Doug Farrar.
The combined passer rating of every quarterback against the Seahawks' defense from Week 1 of the 2025 season through Week 2 of the 2026 season: 77.8.
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 27, 2026
Marcus Mariota today: 110.0.
One of those quarterbacks Seattle faced, Drake Maye, was the MVP runner-up last season.
The undermanned Commanders were only three of 13 on third downs in Sunday’s win. Two of those conversions came on that final drive Mariota engineered, the final being his nine-yard run.
What a day for Marcus Mariota.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: How good was Commanders QB Marcus Mariota? Really good
