Washington Commanders linebackers Sonny Styles, Kain Medrano reflect on their first NFL interceptions in the 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks
After a shaky first two weeks, the Washington Commanders' defense did what it needed to at the right times in Sunday's 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Cornerback Amik Robertson may have been the standout on defense after registering four pass deflections in the first half, the most by any Washington defender through the first 30 minutes since Carlos Rogers recorded five during the 2006 season. Yet the linebacker room helped steal the show in the second half.
Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles found himself as the subject of preseason criticism despite playing only a handful of reps, yet after notching his first NFL sack in his first game after running through RB Saquon Barkley, the home opener proved to be when Styles registered his first NFL interception.
Roughly three minutes into the second half, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold's pass deflected off the helmet of Commanders defensive line Tim Settle and sailed into the air before falling into Styles' arms to set the offense up with a short field. Washington capitalized three plays later after quarterback Marcus Mariota connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin for one of his three passing touchdowns and giving Washington its largest lead of the day.
For a defense that put a premium on "getting after the ball," Sunday's first takeaways of the 2026 regular season proved the first time that defensive coordinator Daronte Jones saw the fruits of his new defense come to life.
"There was just an emphasis on getting after the ball, an emphasis on being sharper on communication and not giving up freebies," Styles said. "When you do your job and you play hard, sometime you end up in the right place."
Styles finished tied for second on the team alongside Robertson and Quan Martin with four solo tackles, while he registered one quarterback hit and a pair of pass deflections. Styles was also initially credited with a forced fumble on the defense's first takeaway before Robertson drew the credit, also a takeaway that the Commanders' offense turned into a touchdown.
Yet Styles would be the first of two linebackers to record his first career NFL interception after Kain Medrano, in his first career snaps on defense, cut off Darnold's passing lane to record the defense's third and final takeaway, then returning it 50 yards for the game-sealing score in the closing minutes of the game.
Head coach Dan Quinn noted postgame that both Styles and Medrano, who finished with five total tackles and one quarterback hit, received game balls following the win.
"Close game. Gotta have a way to get some momentum back and I think that's what did it. I was just [thinking] get the ball in the endzone," Medrano said.
Yet there was additional news in the linebacker news after Leo Chenal went down midway through the second quarter before being ruled with a neck injury. Head coach Dan Quinn noted postgame that Chenal has feeling in all extremities, was talking to his family following the injury and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Though Lucas Patrick and Rachaad White were also ruled questionable with injuries before returning, safety Percy Butler also went into concussion protocol after going into the locker room late in the fourth quarter.
The Commanders will now look to secure consecutive wins when they travel to London to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 4 for a 9:30 AM ET kickoff.
