There are no sure wins in the NFL. That said, if any game on the Seattle Seahawks schedule is looking like a can’t-miss victory, it would have to be the Week 3 matchup with the 0-2 Washington Commanders. In case you missed it, the team from DC lost their most dangerous player on Sunday when quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow on his non-throwing arm.
Daniels is expected to be out indefinitely. That means that Marcus Mariota will be under center when the Seahawks travel east to play Washington this Sunday. As backups go, Mariota is pretty good. He is a lot like the Seahawks' own backup, Drew Lock, who has led them to two straight wins in relief of Sam Darnold.
Other than that, the Seahawks and the Commanders have virtually nothing in common. Even if Daniels were healthy and playing at a high level, this game would be a major challenge for Dan Quinn’s crew. Now, it seems virtually impossible. Seattle, on the road, is an early 6.5-point favorite, and it would not be surprising if the line doesn’t climb higher as the week progresses.
The Seattle Seahawks get a massive break ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Washington Commanders
That doesn’t mean there are not things for Seattle to overcome. It is never easy for a West Coast team to travel east and play in the early window on a Sunday. Washington still has some very talented players, and in Quinn, they have a savvy veteran defensive mind who will no doubt look for ways to shorten the game.
But it certainly seems as if complacency is the only thing that could prevent Seattle from reaching 3-0. Mike Macdonald will go to great lengths to ensure that does not happen.
Washington was hoping for a bounce-back season with a healthy Daniels in 2026. In 2024, he was the toast of the league, winning offensive rookie of the year and taking the formerly moribund Commanders to the NFC title game. But that came crashing back to earth last year.
Star receiver Terry McLaurin held in as he negotiated a contract extension. He never seemed in sync all year. The veterans that GM Adam Peters signed to get the team over the hump in the NFC mostly flamed out. And Daniels got hurt, effectively ending any hopes of another playoff run.
Washington finished 5-12 in 2025 and retooled over the offseason. With Daniels back and healthy, hopes were high. But some odd decisions and some bad luck began derailing those plans early.
Over the summer, the team shockingly released starting center Tyler Biadasz for no apparent reason. They never replaced him and are now relying on a journeyman guard – Nick Allegretti – as their center.
Then, the Commanders' best offensive lineman, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, tore his triceps in early August. Suddenly, the Commanders find themselves with major questions about the offensive line.
They already had modest talent at the other skill positions and a completely revamped defense with questions in the secondary. Now they have lost Daniels, and it is difficult to see how they can hope to challenge the dark side defense.
To make matters worse, Tunsil’s replacement, Brandon Coleman, also left Sunday’s game with a finger injury, and his status for Week 3 remains unclear.
Therefore, new offensive coordinator David Blough has to figure out how to attack Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, and Demarcus Lawrence while fielding an offensive line with just one well-above-average player. That is right guard Sam Cosmi.
Otherwise, the Commanders are weak at center and left guard, pretty good at right tackle, and completely unknown at left tackle. The Seattle line should have a dominant day.
Were he playing, Daniels could have erased offensive line mistakes and made the Seahawks pay for being overly aggressive. Mariota may still be able to do that with his receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. But it is not nearly as likely that he can produce well enough to keep Washington in the game for four quarters.
Otherwise, the Commanders' new-look defense is giving up 325 yards and 30 points per game. They have not yet generated a turnover. That defense is not likely to shut down Brian Fleury’s offense, regardless of who is under center come Sunday.
So it is probably going to fall on a backup quarterback, playing behind a suspect offensive line, with mediocre playmakers across the board. Daniels' injury does not ensure a win. But it comes as close as you can get.
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