Marcus Mariota delivered three touchdowns while the defense registered three takeaways in the Washington Commanders' 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks
The Washington Commanders have picked up the first win of the 2026 regular season after holding off the Seattle Seahawks, 33-31, in the home opener.
Washington turned three takeaways into 21 points, an efficient day for a defense looking for a bounceback performance. Marcus Mariota's three passing touchdowns also marked the most since week eight of the 2025 season.
The game started well for Washington, who recorded the first takeaway after a forced fumbled by cornerback Amik Robertson set the offense up with a short field. Marcus Mariota would capitalize after leading a four play, 21 yard drive before finding running back Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown, White's first with the team, to give the Commanders an early 7-0 lead.
After holding the Seahawks to just 19 yards of total offense through the first two drives, the Seahawks' found their stride on a drive spanning into the second quarter after a pair of big plays in the passing game, first a 32 yard pass to TE AJ Barner, then a 20 yard pass to fullback Brady Russell, set up an easy touchdown to WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to tie the game.
The two teams traded punts once more before Washington answered back, this time with an eight-play scoring drive ending with a touchdown pass to WR Treylon Burks, his first of the season, to move back ahead, 14-7.
Seattle cut into the lead after Jason Myers drilled a 58 yard field goal in the final two minutes of the first half, but the offense answered right back after Drew Stevens drilled a 57 yard field goal in the closing seconds, giving Washington a 17-10 lead at the break.
Washington would extend the lead after picking up where they left off to begin the second half with the defense coming down with its second takeaway of the day. Styles registered his first career NFL interception off a deflected pass, setting up Mariota with his third touchdown pass of the day just three plays later after connecting with WR Terry McLaurin for a 30 yard score, extending Washington's lead to 24-10.
Then reality came crashing down as the Seahawks scored 14 unanswered points to set up the tie game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
Drew Stevens would break the deadlock after drilling a 36 yard field goal with under five minutes left on a drive where the Commanders nearly converted a fresh set of downs in the redzone, but the defense would add insurance.
Linebacker Kain Medrano registered his first NFL interception and returned it 50 yards for the pick six before a missed extra point put Washington ahead, 33-24.
Seattle answered quickly after a 66 second drive made it a two point game, but that would be the closest they got after Rachaad White, then Mariota picked up consecutive first downs inside two minutes to seal the win.
Sunday did feature another notable injury midway through the second quarter of the 2026 home opener after linebacker Leo Chenal was carted off the field after he was ruled out with a neck injury. The free agent addition appeared to take a hit to the head on a tackle attempt, leading to a scary situation with the full team on the field supporting him. The broadcast noted Chenal has feeling in all extremities and was taken to the hospital as a precaution with his family with him following the injury.
Washington will now look for their first win in the international games when they face the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, Oct. 4 in London.
