Commanders turn to Marcus Mariota as unbeaten Seahawks visit for home opener
The Washington Commanders will try to earn their first victory of the season when they host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern, with FOX carrying the game. Washington enters its home opener at 0-2, while Seattle arrives at 2-0 following a convincing victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The Commanders need a strong response after consecutive road losses put them behind early in the season.
The quarterback situations moved in opposite directions this week. Washington ruled out Jayden Daniels with a left elbow injury, leaving Marcus Mariota to lead the offense. Seattle confirmed that Sam Darnold will return after a glute injury kept him out of its Week 2 victory. Darnold practiced fully Thursday and Friday and carries no injury designation into Sunday.
Mariota provided some stability after replacing Daniels during Washington’s 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown to Stefon Diggs, giving the Commanders a productive stretch despite the difficult circumstances. Mariota also made eight starts for Washington last season, so this assignment comes with considerable familiarity with his teammates. His experience gives Washington a chance to keep the offense organized, but avoiding negative plays will matter against Seattle’s defense.
Washington should make its running game a major part of the plan. The Commanders enter Week 3 averaging 157 rushing yards per game, fourth in the NFL, and 4.9 yards per carry. However, Daniels supplied nearly one-third of that rushing production, meaning those numbers do not automatically carry over to an offense without him. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and Kaytron Allen will need to help keep Mariota out of difficult passing situations.
Getting Terry McLaurin involved should be another priority. McLaurin has only four receptions through two games, while Diggs already has three touchdown catches. Washington should look for early opportunities to get both receivers touches, particularly through routes that allow Mariota to deliver the ball before pressure arrives. Sustaining drives will require dependable production between the 20-yard lines as well as finishing ability near the end zone.
Protection could determine how much of the passing game Washington can use. Right guard Sam Cosmi will miss the game with a concussion and throat injury, and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is out with a hamstring injury. Those absences reduce Washington’s options in both protection and personnel groupings. The Commanders should be careful about asking Mariota to repeatedly hold the ball for deeper routes behind a line missing a starter.
Seattle’s defensive performance makes that concern especially relevant. The Seahawks limited Arizona to 151 total yards and 3.2 yards per play in their 31-7 victory last Sunday. Through two games, Seattle has not allowed a single offensive play of 20 yards or more. That record suggests Washington should prepare to build patient drives and earn first downs without depending on an immediate long gain.
There is an opening for Washington in Seattle’s secondary, however. Starting safeties Julian Love and Ty Okada are out, with AJ Finley set to join Rodney Thomas II in the starting lineup. Those changes give the Commanders a reason to test Seattle’s communication with motion and route combinations that force defenders to exchange assignments. Mariota should take downfield opportunities when the coverage allows them, while resisting the temptation to force a throw simply because Seattle has replacement starters on the field.
When Seattle has the ball, Washington’s first concern should be Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The receiver caught nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona, including an 82-yard score. He already has 277 receiving yards through two games and can turn a missed assignment into an immediate scoring opportunity. Washington must identify his alignment before every snap and make sure its coverage help arrives where it belongs.
The Commanders received a painful reminder of that responsibility against Dallas. Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes, while CeeDee Lamb caught eight passes for 153 yards and two scores. Washington cannot afford another afternoon in which an opposing quarterback consistently finds his leading receiver in favorable situations. The defense should make Seattle complete contested throws and finish tackles before routine receptions become substantial gains.
Washington will attempt those improvements without linebacker Frankie Luvu and safety Nick Cross, both of whom are ruled out. Their absences leave the defense with additional adjustments against an offense getting its starting quarterback back. Seattle also cleared rookie running back Jadarian Price after he left the Arizona game with a chest injury. That gives the Seahawks another available option to maintain balance and punish Washington if it commits too many defenders to the passing game.
Creating an extra possession would help Washington considerably. The Commanders entered this week still looking for their first takeaway, and that drought puts more pressure on an offense adjusting to Mariota. A turnover could give Washington a short field and reduce the number of long drives it needs to produce. The defense must pursue those opportunities without abandoning the coverage discipline necessary to contain Smith-Njigba.
The opening quarter also carries weight for the Commanders. An early scoring drive would allow Washington to keep running the ball, use its full offensive package and bring the home crowd into the game. Falling behind by multiple scores would invite Seattle to concentrate on pressuring Mariota and protecting against deeper passes. Washington should approach its early possessions with urgency while avoiding penalties and risky decisions that give Seattle favorable field position.
MSB Take
Washington has a credible veteran quarterback in Mariota, but winning this game will require help from every unit. The Commanders need productive early-down runs, more involvement from McLaurin and a defense that limits Seattle’s biggest receiving threat. Seattle’s injuries at safety create an opportunity, but Washington must protect Mariota long enough to take advantage of it. The Commanders have a path to an upset if they keep the score close and win the turnover battle.
Seattle has shown more consistency through the first two weeks, and Darnold’s return strengthens its position entering Sunday. Washington’s injuries make it difficult to expect a complete turnaround against an opponent playing this well. MSB prediction: Seahawks 27, Commanders 17.
