Three Takeaways Carry Commanders Past Defending Champion Seattle 33-31

Washington forced its first turnovers of 2026, Marcus Mariota threw three TD passes for the injured Jayden Daniels, and the Commanders outlasted defending champion Seattle 33-31.

The Washington Commanders generated their first takeaways of 2026 on Sunday, and three of them made the difference. A recovered fumble plus a pair of interceptions helped Washington beat defending champion Seattle 33-31 and steer clear of an 0-3 record.

Creating turnovers had been a years-long problem for the franchise. The Commanders produced only 10 all of last season, the NFL's second-lowest figure, and added none over the first two weeks of this year. Coach Dan Quinn keeps a wall for takeaways outside his office, and he said the space had gone unused for two weeks before Sunday's breakthrough — watching it fill up again, he added, was significant for the group.

With Jayden Daniels unavailable because of an elbow injury, Marcus Mariota ran the offense and threw three touchdown passes. Two of those scoring throws followed turnovers that left Washington with favorable field position.

The last takeaway hurt Seattle the most. Kain Medrano intercepted a Sam Darnold pass and brought the ball back 50 yards for a touchdown, stretching Washington's advantage to nine points late in the fourth quarter, and the margin lasted to the final whistle.

Daniels could be closing in on a return: Quinn said Monday the quarterback will take part in practice in some form this week. Washington travels to London to meet Indianapolis next, then hosts the New York Giants, a stretch that offers a path to staying competitive until the starter is back. It is the franchise's second consecutive year playing abroad, having lost to Miami in Spain a year ago.

Stopping the run remains a foundation of the defense. Opponents are gaining 3.8 yards per carry against Washington through three games and have managed only 10 first downs on the ground. "It was a good win because we had to earn it all the way down to the last drive," rookie linebacker Sonny Styles said, noting that with numerous players unavailable, the number of teammates filling larger roles reflected well on the roster.

Penalties after touchdowns keep setting the team back. Stefon Diggs drew a flag for a goal-post celebration in the opener that wiped out a 2-point attempt, and on Sunday a 15-yard penalty followed Medrano's score. Quinn said a player not in uniform had come onto the field, turning the extra point into a 48-yard try that was missed, and the issue was addressed in Monday's team meeting.

Terry McLaurin turned in one of his finest outings since the start of last season, catching six passes for 77 yards and a score. He adjusted on the move to secure a 30-yard touchdown throw from Mariota that pushed the lead to 14 in the second half, and afterward he thanked the home fans who filled the stadium despite the rain.

Not everything went smoothly. Rookie receiver Antonio Williams let a deep Mariota pass slip away in the third quarter. Linebacker Leo Chenal required neck surgery after a frightening second-quarter injury, while linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) are expected to return to practice this week. Running back Rachaad White fought through a shoulder problem and still contributed an important run late. Sunday gave Washington its first three-takeaway regular-season game since Week 6 of 2023 against Atlanta, though the team also forced five in a playoff victory at Detroit two seasons ago.