Here at Seahawks Wire, we love to take our readers on a weekly trip Behind Enemy Lines. Well, it's that time of the week again! The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the "other" Washington for a Week 3 showdown against the Washington Commanders.
For the second-straight season, Seattle is headed east for a road game in our nation's capital. The Seahawks dismantled the Commanders 38-14 in 2025 and will look for a similar result this year with Sam Darnold back under center. Seattle doesn't play the "other" Washington often, so getting a closer look at this team is more than appropriate. We spoke with our friend, Bryan Manning, of Commanders Wire, to have a better idea of what the Seahawks are going to deal with tomorrow.
Our questions, and Manning's
answers, are below.
No. 1 - What can we expect from Marcus Mariota?
Mariota is efficient. He processes quickly, and the Commanders do not have to change anything with him as the backup. He has plenty of reps, so rust isn’t an issue. Mariota will put the ball in more danger than Daniels. He also doesn’t have the zip on his passes as Daniels. IMO, the best backup in the NFL, but he’s facing the top defense without his two best offensive linemen. That’s a tough ask for anyone. If he gets time, he can keep the chains moving.
No. 2 - I know injuries have tempered expectations, but are there any improvements from last year’s team?
The run defense is much better. The Eagles and Cowboys could not run the ball. Washington could stop neither on the ground last year. Outside of Saquon Barkley’s one 40-yard run, Washington held him to 2 yards per carry in Week 1. That was a result of a missed tackle. We will learn a lot about that improved run defense on Sunday. Offensively, the Commanders have an excellent WR room now. It’s so much better than a year ago with Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams and Dyami Brown joining Terry McLaurin. Unfortunately, TE Chig Okonkwo will miss this game, which is another tough blow for Washington.
No. 3 - Who is a non-household name that the 12th Man should know?
Tyler Owens. He’s not a starter on defense, but he is an elite special teams performer. Everyone saw his viral Week 1 play, which won him an Angry Runs scepter. I could see him playing more defense in this game because starting strong safety Nick Cross is out. Owens is 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, with insane speed. He’s a hard hitter. A fun player to watch who could see a lot more action on Sunday due to injuries.
No. 4 - What position battle are you most interested in seeing?
Wide receiver or cornerback. Wide receiver is interesting because I think most fans want to see rookie Antonio Williams play more. He is special. At cornerback, it’s different. Mike Sainristil has regressed to the point of being unplayable. It’s sad. Do the Commanders finally go with a veteran in that spot? Either Fabian Moreau or recently signed Isaac Yiadom could get more reps.
No. 5 - Who wins and why?
Seattle wins, obviously. If the Commanders weren't this beat up and Daniels was playing, I think this would be a game. Daniels is a special player and was looking like himself the last two weeks. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Washington can’t stop Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I expect him to have 150 yards and two touchdowns alone. The key for the Commanders is to get some pass rush. Offensively, Washington will struggle to run the ball without Daniels. Seahawks win comfortably, 24-10.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 5 things to know about the Seahawks' Week 3 opponents
