The Washington Commanders’ offensive line has taken plenty of heat over the first three weeks, and some of that criticism has been fair. But against the Seattle Seahawks, that group gave Washington a real answer.
This was the kind of game that forces a front five to stand up and get counted. Washington came in with its season already feeling fragile, with Jayden Daniels re-injuring his elbow the week before and several other key injuries piling up. An 0-3 start would have been a tough place to land this early, and the offensive line helped make sure the Commanders had a shot to avoid it.
The headline number is simple enough: Washington gave up just two sacks for seven yards. But that only scratches the surface of what happened Sunday. The Commanders needed their line to hold up against the defending Super Bowl champions, and that group delivered in a way that went well beyond the box score.
From left tackle to right tackle, Washington was winning snaps. The Commanders mixed in schematic answers and clean execution to keep Seattle’s pass rush from taking over, using slide protections that helped load up the help against Leonard Williams and other interior threats. That approach mattered, but it only worked because the line did its part.
There were also plenty of moments when the Commanders had to handle things the hard way, one-on-one. Seattle’s front can create pressure with four rushers and is strong in its line games, so Washington’s linemen had to stay technically sharp, play with force, and meet the moment with aggression. For much of the afternoon, they did exactly that.
It was the most complete performance the unit has put together so far this season. And while Washington will still need to revisit the offensive line this offseason - center remains a spot to upgrade, and the team also has to decide what it wants from Brandon Coleman heading into the final year of his rookie contract - those are future conversations.
Right now, the Commanders’ front five earned the credit for helping them control the line of scrimmage and giving the offense a chance to win.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Bigger QB Question Than They Wanted
Marcus Mariotas relief turn against the Seahawks did more than steady the Commanders for a week. It also put him in the same conversation Jayden Daniels had been owning all season, as Mariota was voted FedEx Air Player of the Week after stepping in for the injured rookie and helping keep Washington on track.
Mariota completed 19 passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns with a 110.0 passer rating, and he even added a key rushing first down late in the game. Daniels had already won the same award three times during his rookie season, which is what makes this latest honor feel a little more complicated for Washington as it waits to see how the quarterback picture settles going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Injury Outlook Just Became A Real Commanders Concern
Jayden Daniels has been working through another layer of discomfort as Washington prepares for the Colts, practicing with a large brace on his left arm to guard against further elbow dislocations after injuries last year and again earlier this season. The Commanders quarterback has opted to put surgery off until after the season, if he needs it at all, and his availability for Sunday remains part of the weekly uncertainty around a team trying to keep its season on track.
Daniels said the brace does limit his range of motion, but not his throwing motion, which leaves Washington in the familiar spot of balancing caution with urgency. He is taking things day by day, and for a Commanders team already watching closely, his status against Indianapolis now looms as one of the more important storylines of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Good Problem After That Brutal Start
A 0-2 start and the loss of Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow could have sent Washington spiraling, but the Commanders steadied themselves with an upset win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. The result did more than stop the bleeding. It gave a battered roster and coaching staff a reason to exhale a little, especially with the bye week arriving at a time when the team still has plenty of fixing to do.
K'Lavon Chaisson and Javon Kinlaw have been part of the early lift, with Chaisson flashing off the edge with a sack and several pressures, while Kinlaw has fit well into the defensive line under the new scheme. For a team that spent the opening weeks looking like it might be headed for a long season, those are the kinds of developments that matter, because they suggest Washington may have more functional pieces than the record initially showed. The bigger question now is whether that momentum can survive the injuries and the break in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]