Seattle's franchise-record 12-game win streak came to an end in the nation's capital at the hands of the winless and undermanned Commanders.
Sam Darnold made his return after missing most of the Seattle Seahawks' first two games of the season with a glute injury, but the Washington Commanders played spoiler by capturing their first win of the season, 33-31, in their home opener at Northwest Stadium.
After allowing a two-touchdown comeback in the second half, Washington took control late in the fourth quarter with a field goal and a 50-yard interception returned for touchdown.
Washington, however, missed the extra point and allowed Seattle to move quickly and score a touchdown with under three minutes remaining, bringing the lead to within just two.
Rachaad White scampered to a first down on 3rd-and-9 coming out of the two-minute, and Marcus Mariota scrambled for another third-down conversion to seal an upset win and end Seattle's 12-game win streak that dates back to before the Seahawks' Super Bowl run.
The Commanders entered Week 3 having not forced a turnover in 2026. Sunday, they forced Seattle into three giveaways and scored on the ensuing possession (or play) each time.
Darnold posted 379 yards on 31-of-45 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions. His top target, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (128 yards, 2 TDs), joined Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history to record at least 120 yards receiving and a touchdown in the first three games of a season.
Washington led for much of the game as quarterback Mariota, playing in place of injured starter Jayden Daniels, completed 19 of 31 through the air for 183 yards and had his first three-touchdown day in over four years.
The Commanders jumped out to an early advantage as rookie running back Jadarian Price fumbled on the first play of Seattle's second drive. Washington capitalized on the field position when Mariota threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Rachaad White.
With two three-and-outs sandwiching the fumble in the first quarter, Seattle stayed close with the help of a penalty on the Commanders. An illegal formation nullified a touchdown run by Washington tailback Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The drive ended in a punt.
Darnold and the Seahawks' offense opened up at the end of the first quarter with three passes of 20 yards or more. Seattle tied the game early in the second period with Darnold's one-yard touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba, who caught three TDs from backup quarterback Drew Lock in last week's win at Arizona.
Washington retook the lead at 14-7 with Mariota's second passing touchdown, an 11-yard strike to Treylon Burks. ESPN noted that Mariota is the first quarterback to throw two first-half touchdowns against the Seahawks since ... Sam Darnold, back in 2024 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Seattle had an opportunity to answer, but a 14-play, 78-yard drive ended at the Washington two-yard line. Darnold's pass to AJ Barner fell incomplete on fourth-and-goal for a turnover on downs with under two minutes to go in the first half.
The Seahawks defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to Darnold & Co., and a 57-yard field goal by Jason Myers trimmed the deficit to 14-10.
But the Commanders matched that effort with a 57-yard field goal of their own by Drew Stevens, making for a 17-10 lead going into halftime.
Washington, which had yet to force a turnover this season, got its second of the game as Darnold's pass to Smith-Njigba was deflected and intercepted by rookie linebacker Sonny Styles in the third quarter. For a second time, Washington turned the takeaway into points as Mariota's third touchdown pass was a 30-yard connection with Terry McLaurin.
Midway through the third quarter, Seattle used a kickoff penalty and a pair of crucial third-down conversions to answer with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Eric Saubert.
Shortly after, Darnold found Smith-Njigba in the end zone for a second time, and Myers' extra point tied the game at 24 with 12 minutes to play.
Washington used a fourth-down conversion to extend the ensuing possession - their largest drive of the day - ending in a field goal to retake the lead at 27-24.
Darnold was intercepted for a second time by Kain Medrano, who took the return 50 yards. Washington's kicker Stevens, however, missed the extra point after an unsportsmanlike penalty moved the kick back.
Seattle calmed down and Darnold was nearly perfect in marching the Seahawks downfield quickly. He hit Cooper Kupp for a wide-open touchdown to bring the defending Super Bowl champs to within a pair.
Washington was just 3-13 on third down in the game, but converted two of those crucial extenders to put the game on ice during the final drive.
