LOS ANGELES, California, October 3, 2026 — The Washington Commanders stun defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks 33-31 in Landover, Maryland. The Huskies were without quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is out with a dislocated left elbow, and six other starters. It was the Commanders’ first win of the 2026 season after an 0-2 start, and snapped a Seattle winning streak that had reached 12 games.
Mariota Steps In
Daniels remained sidelined for the second consecutive week with a shoulder injury, and veteran Marcus Mariota was again under center and threw three touchdown passes to keep Washington locked in a track meet against a potent Seattle offense. He threw a six-yard touchdown pass to running back Rachaad White in the first quarter and an 11-yarder to Treylon Burks. Completions on both drives gave the Commanders an early lead against the defending champs.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, providing Mariota with a reliable target at every level of the field. Washington with an early second-half score took a two-score lead. Strong performance from a player who has been quiet up until this point of the season.
Also, while the Commanders ran it 32 times versus just 34 throws — Washington had entered the matchup averaging 3.7 yards per carry against a defense that had already allowed an average of 2.6 – they never established any consistent effectiveness on the ground whatsoever. They stuck with the run game though, and the patience paid off late. The run game came through when Washington needed yards to salt away the lead.
Seattle Fights Back
The Seahawks were behind 24-10 until quarterback Sam Darnold and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba ignited a 14-point rally in the final minutes. Smith-Njigba: 10 receptions, 128 yards, two touchdowns. The Commanders then led 33-29 before a five-play, 68-yard drive to trim it again to 33-31 with only 2:51 left in the game.
Washington was trying to pick up a first down, if for no other reason than to consume some clock before the inevitable winning field goal opportunity for Seattle. On this third-and-9, Mariota gave to White, who churned 19 yards with a Segway-level assist from Nick Allegretti. That play caught Seattle off guard and seems to have forced the Seahawks to use their timeouts.
Mariota retained the ball on a zone read and picked up the game-clinching first down on the next third down. The Commanders kneel twice to end the game. Seattle never had the ball again.
A Rough Week Behind Them
It marked seven days after the Dallas loss hurt by Daniels that had left the team looking to solve for solutions. Dan Quinn, a former Seahawks assistant, mandated the practice through a challenging week. In January of 2025, Washington lost to Philadelphia 55-23 in the NFC Championship Game, just one win short of reaching the Super Bowl.
The loss dropped Seattle to 2-1. So Darnold and company were capable of a comeback — the Seahawks simply could not retake possession. Next up for them is the Los Angeles Chargers at home.
Sainristil: The cornerback has been off to a struggling start in 2026, and had a big part in both earlier defeats. The secondary was again put under immense pressure from both Darnold and Smith-Njigba. Coaches will watch the film before London and decide how to adjust coverage.
What Comes Next
The Washington team now comes to London facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. The trip will give the Commanders a chance to build on a victory that improved the mood around the team. Each week, fans can check the NFL Standings to see how the result changes the board.
Washington, meanwhile, got a steady hand at quarterback while Daniels healed in the form of three touchdown passes from Mariota. His comeback from the elbow injury will determine how we look at this team moving forward. The Commanders finally have a signature win over the league’s reigning champion, and fresh momentum.
