The Seahawks are heading into Week 3 with momentum, and the setup in Washington looks favorable again. Seattle rolled past the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, and now it goes back to the nation’s capital, where it beat the Commanders 38-14 last season. This time, though, the trip comes with a different twist: the Seahawks are 2-0 and getting starting quarterback Sam Darnold back, while the 0-2 Commanders will be without Jayden Daniels.
That’s the backdrop for a game that has drawn predictions from both Seahawks Wire and Commanders Wire. The consensus is clear: Seattle is expected to handle business.
Kole Musgrove of Seahawks Wire sees a comfortable Seahawks win, picking Seattle 27, Commanders 10. He called the Seahawks “a wagon right now” and said Washington “don’t match up well against them.” He also expects Seattle to lean on the run game, control the clock, and keep Darnold protected.
Dom Skene went even bigger, taking Seattle 36, Washington 12. His read is that Sam Darnold returns “in emphatic fashion” with three touchdown passes, while the Seahawks again pile up 150-plus rushing yards. He also noted that Washington lacks a player like Try McBride, which makes the matchup tougher for the Commanders.
Matt Legros also backed Seattle, predicting a 32-13 result. In his view, Darnold will reconnect with JSN for two scores and throw three touchdowns overall, with rookie running back Jadarian Price catching the other. He also expects the Seattle defense to keep Washington out of the end zone except for one touchdown and two field goals.
From the Commanders side, Bryan Manning still sees a Seattle win, going with Seahawks 24, Commanders 10. He said, “Seattle wins, obviously.”
Manning added that if Daniels were healthy, this would be a game, and he described Daniels as “a special player” who had been looking like himself over the last two weeks. Without him, Manning expects Washington to struggle to run the ball and says the Commanders will need to generate pass rush to have any chance.
He also predicted Jaxon Smith-Njigba could be a problem, forecasting 150 yards and two touchdowns.
All four predictions point the same direction: Seattle by a comfortable margin, with the Commanders facing an uphill battle without their starting quarterback.
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
The home opener arrives with an unusual kind of urgency in Washington, where the Commanders are already staring at their first real checkpoint of the season. After losing Jayden Daniels, the offense has shifted to Marcus Mariota, and the pressure on the rest of the roster has only grown as the team looks for its first win of the year in Week 3 against Seattle.
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 🡒]