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...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Terry McLaurin Problem They Cant Ignore
Terry McLaurins opening to the 2026 season has been quieter than anyone in Washington expected, with the veteran wideout managing only four catches for 64 yards through two games. The early numbers are jarring, especially for a receiver who has long been one of the Commanders most dependable weapons, but McLaurin has brushed off the slow start and said he trusts his process.
The concern for Washington is that the quarterback situation only makes the margin for error smaller. Jayden Daniels is dealing with a dislocated left elbow, and while McLaurin has experience working with backup Marcus Mariota, the Commanders still need their top target to find a rhythm quickly if the passing game is going to hold together through a shaky stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Put Washington In A Tough Spot
Jayden Daniels left elbow injury has already changed the Commanders early-season plans, and not in a small way. After dislocating it in Week 2, the rookie quarterback will miss Week 3 and likely Week 4, leaving Washington to move forward with Marcus Mariota expected to start while the team tries to dig out of an 0-2 start.
What makes this situation harder is Daniels decision to avoid surgery and try the nonsurgical route in hopes of getting back this season. It is a choice that has prompted criticism from multiple NFL executives, who worry about the risks to his long-term health and financial future, and it leaves Washington hoping the short-term gamble does not become something more complicated as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Home Opener Brings One Real Chance To Stop This Slide
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For a defense that has talked about needing to create more disruption, this matchup offers a chance to help change the tone. The Seahawks bring their own uncertainty at quarterback because of Sam Darnolds injury, which gives Washington an opening to lean on pressure, chase turnovers and maybe finally give the home crowd something to build around. [Read more 🡒]