Mariota Throws Three TDs as Commanders End Seahawks' 12-Game Win Streak, 33-31

Mariota tossed three TD passes with Jayden Daniels injured, and Kain Medrano's 50-yard pick-six lifted Washington past Seattle 33-31, the Seahawks' first defeat since November.

LANDOVER, Md. — Marcus Mariota, starting because Jayden Daniels was injured, passed for three touchdowns, and Kain Medrano brought an interception back 50 yards for a score Sunday as the Washington Commanders beat the Seattle Seahawks 33-31. Seattle (2-1) arrived riding 12 consecutive victories, a stretch that included last season's playoff march to the Super Bowl title, and had not lost since November. Washington (1-2) prevailed in its home opener behind three Seattle giveaways.

Sam Darnold returned from the glute injury he sustained in Week 1 but was picked off twice. Jaxon Smith-Njigba paced Seattle with 10 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and he even completed a pass on a trick play during the fourth quarter.

The decisive swing came with Washington up 27-24. Medrano stepped in front of a Darnold throw across the middle and raced 50 yards for a touchdown that made it a two-score game with 3:57 remaining. A flag on the celebration backed the extra point up by 15 yards, and Drew Stevens' longer try was no good. Darnold responded by completing three consecutive passes to Smith-Njigba and then finding Cooper Kupp from 7 yards out, drawing Seattle within two points with 2:51 left.

Until that possession, Washington had converted only one of its 11 third downs, but the offense came through twice to let the remaining time expire. Rachaad White broke free for a 19-yard run to the right on third-and-9, and Mariota gained 9 yards on a third-and-7 carry that finished off the victory.

Seattle rookie running back Jadarian Price lost a fumble in the game's early stages, putting Washington at the Seattle 21, and he did not carry the ball again until the second half. The Commanders quickly capitalized, with Mariota connecting with Rachaad White on a 6-yard touchdown pass for the opening points. A long touchdown run by Jacory Croskey-Merritt that would have put Washington up 14-0 got wiped out by an illegal formation penalty.

The Seahawks pulled even at 7 in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Smith-Njigba. Washington went back on top via an 11-yard scoring connection between Mariota and Treylon Burks. In the last minute before halftime, Jason Myers of Seattle and Washington's Drew Stevens each made a 57-yard field goal.

A 30-yard touchdown from Mariota to Terry McLaurin stretched Washington's lead to 24-10 in the second half. Seattle answered by going 60 yards for a touchdown, finishing the possession when Darnold hit tight end Eric Saubert on first down from the Washington 13 — Saubert seemed to lose the ball short of the goal line before securing the catch in the end zone. Darnold's 11-yard scoring toss to Smith-Njigba with 11:53 remaining in the fourth quarter knotted the game at 24.

On the injury front, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori left in the first half with a hamstring problem. Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal was carted off with a neck injury during the second quarter, and guard Lucas Patrick exited with an ankle injury in the first half.

The Seahawks welcome the Los Angeles Chargers at home next Sunday. The Commanders travel to London, where they will meet Indianapolis on Sunday.