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Commanders Shock Seahawks in Thrilling 33-31 Upset!
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- Commanders Shock Seahawks in Thrilling 33-31 Upset!
Photo by: Geoff Burke
The Washington Commanders delivered one of the biggest surprises of Week 3, taking down the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 33-31 on Sunday at Northwest Stadium.
Despite entering the game without star quarterback Jayden Daniels , Washington found a way to pull off the upset behind a strong performance from Marcus Mariota and a defense that came up with a game-changing play late in the fourth quarter.
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The victory gives Washington its first win of the season and snaps Seattle's remarkable 12-game winning streak, which included its run to last year's Super Bowl title.
Mariota Steps Up in Daniels' Absence
With Daniels sidelined by an elbow injury, Mariota stepped into the starting role and delivered when Washington needed him most.
The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes, helping the Commanders keep pace with Seattle's explosive offense. Mariota connected with Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown in the first quarter before finding Treylon Burks for an 11-yard score.
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His biggest throw came in the third quarter, when he connected with Terry McLaurin for a 30-yard touchdown that gave Washington a 24-10 lead.
Seattle continued to fight back, but Mariota's performance gave the Commanders a chance to pull off the upset against one of the NFL's hottest teams.
Seahawks Rally to Tie the Game
Seattle refused to go away quietly.
After trailing 24-10, the Seahawks mounted a comeback behind quarterback Sam Darnold and star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba .
Smith-Njigba caught 10 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including an 11-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 24.
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Darnold also connected with Cooper Kupp for a late touchdown, cutting Washington's lead to just two points after the Commanders had appeared to take control.
But Seattle's comeback was undone by costly mistakes.
Kain Medrano Delivers the Game-Changing Play
With Washington leading 27-24, the Commanders' defense delivered the biggest play of the afternoon.
Linebacker Kain Medrano intercepted a Darnold pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, giving Washington a 33-24 advantage with just under four minutes remaining.
The play gave the Commanders some much-needed breathing room, although a penalty during the celebration pushed the extra point back and the kick was missed.
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Seattle responded with a touchdown to make it a two-point game, setting up a tense finish.
Washington's offense then took over. Mariota converted a crucial third down with a nine-yard run, while Rachaad White broke loose for a 19-yard gain on another third-down play.
Those conversions allowed the Commanders to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Commanders Earn a Statement Win
The win moves Washington to 1-2 after opening the season with back-to-back losses. Doing it without Daniels makes the victory even more significant for a team looking to get its season back on track.
Mariota proved capable of leading the offense, while Medrano's interception return provided the decisive moment.
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For Seattle, the loss drops the Seahawks to 2-1 and ends their 12-game winning streak. Despite the defeat, Smith-Njigba continued to shine, and the offense showed it could fight back when trailing.
Washington now turns its attention to a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in London, while Seattle prepares to host the Los Angeles Chargers .
The Commanders entered Sunday looking for their first win. They left with a thrilling upset over the defending champions.
