Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks keep piling up wins, and now they’re taking that momentum back on the road for another meeting with a Commanders team that won’t have its starting quarterback.
Seattle rolled past the Arizona Cardinals, 31-7, last Sunday in Glendale, extending its winning streak to 12 straight overall. The Seahawks also controlled the game in a big way, outgaining Arizona by 230 yards, 381-151. Drew Lock handled the offense efficiently, throwing for 235 yards and three touchdowns, all of them to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The trip to Washington comes with Marcus Mariota set to start in place of the ailing Jayden Daniels as Dan Quinn’s team searches for its first win of 2026. It’s the third meeting between these clubs in four years and the second straight season they’ll play in Landover.
Last year in Week 9, Seattle jumped out to a 28-0 second-quarter lead and never looked back in a 38-14 win. Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards that night, and all four of his touchdown passes came in the first half.
That result gave Seattle its second straight win in the series, though the Seahawks still trail the all-time matchup, including playoffs, 13-11.
Macdonald’s team has been a machine since he took over. Seattle is 29-10 overall under him, including the 2025 postseason, and the road numbers stand out even more: 16-2 away from home.
The Seahawks are also 12-8 at home and 1-0 at a neutral site, that win coming in Super Bowl LX. On the road, they’ve won five in a row by a combined score of 138-53.
Washington’s defense has had a rough start to the season. In 2025, the Commanders allowed the most total yards in the NFL, and through two games this year they’ve given up 318 yards to the Eagles and 332 to the Cowboys. They’ve also allowed seven touchdown passes without recording an interception and are one of three teams, along with the Texans and Eagles, still without a takeaway.
Smith-Njigba has been right in the middle of Seattle’s surge. The 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year led the league with 1,793 receiving yards last season, and dating back to his second NFL campaign, he’s posted 100-plus receiving yards in 15 of his last 39 games, including playoffs.
Washington also brought in edge rusher Odafe Oweh this offseason with a hefty contract after signing him away from the Chargers. Through two games in 2026, he has five tackles, including two for losses, one sack and two quarterback hits. Over his last 16 games, including playoffs, he has 11.5 quarterback traps.
In Other News...
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Puka Nacuas status has become one of the early-season worries for the Rams, with Sean McVay saying there is still uncertainty about whether the receiver will be available in Week 3. McVay described the issue as a minor injury and stressed that it is not viewed as a long-term concern, but even a brief absence would matter for a Los Angeles offense that has leaned heavily on him as a featured option.
For the Seahawks, it is the kind of development worth watching closely in a division that has already had its share of early drama. Seattle is also dealing with its own storyline after Mike Macdonald addressed a past controversy tied to Sean Paytons cheating suspicions, apologized for airing a private conversation, and said he takes responsibility for what he said. In a crowded NFC West, those off-field moments can linger just as much as the injury reports. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Just Made Seattles Quarterback Decision A Lot Tougher
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The timing only adds to the intrigue for the Seahawks. Darnold is working back from injury and could be close to returning, but Locks strong start has raised his profile at exactly the wrong moment for a team that still has to sort out its long-term quarterback picture. With Lock in the final year of his contract and headed for unrestricted free agency after the season, Seattle suddenly has more to weigh than just who starts next week. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Real Fight Brewing On The Offensive Line
Anthony Bradfords move to injured reserve has suddenly opened a meaningful hole for Seattle along the offensive line, and the Seahawks will have to sort it out without their starting right guard for at least four games because of a hip injury. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Christian Haynes and rookie Beau Stephens will handle the spot in Bradfords absence, setting up a competition that arrived faster than the team probably wanted.
Fleury pointed to both players work in the previous game against the Arizona Cardinals, which gives Seattle some reason for optimism even with the shuffle. Still, this is the kind of injury that can test depth quickly, especially up front, and the Seahawks now have a real decision to monitor as they look for the best answer on the right side of the line. [Read more 🡒]