The Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders played one of the closest games of NFL Week 3 on September 27, 2026. Washington earned a 33–31 victory at Northwest Stadium after Seattle mounted a late comeback attempt. The Seahawks finished with 437 total yards, but three turnovers changed the game. Washington, meanwhile, produced only 258 yards but made its opportunities count when the game reached its most important moments.
Sam Darnold delivered a strong statistical performance in his return for Seattle, throwing for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also continued his impressive start with 10 catches, 128 yards, and two touchdowns. Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota answered with 183 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The Commanders’ defense then made the decisive play late, as Kain Medrano returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
Final Score
Washington opened the scoring in the first quarter when Marcus Mariota connected with Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown. Seattle answered in the second quarter through Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Darnold. The teams traded more touchdowns and field goals before Washington carried a 24–10 advantage into the second half. Seattle then began to close the gap with another touchdown from Eric Saubert.
The Seahawks eventually tied the game at 24–24 after another Smith-Njigba touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Washington regained the lead with a 36-yard Drew Stevens field goal before Medrano’s interception return pushed the Commanders ahead 33–24. Seattle responded with a seven-yard Cooper Kupp touchdown, but Washington controlled the final possession and secured the two-point win.
| Quarter | Seattle Seahawks | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 7 |
| 2nd | 10 | 10 |
| 3rd | 7 | 7 |
| 4th | 14 | 9 |
| Final | 31 | 33 |
Match Details and Team Records
The game was played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, with an announced attendance of 64,027. Seattle entered the matchup at 2–0, while Washington was searching for its first victory of the 2026 regular season. The Commanders ultimately improved to 1–2, while Seattle fell to 2–1. The loss also ended the Seahawks’ 12-game winning streak.
Seattle controlled several statistical categories despite losing. The Seahawks recorded 28 first downs and 437 total yards compared with Washington’s 17 first downs and 258 yards. Seattle also averaged 6.8 yards per play, while Washington averaged 4.0. However, the Commanders won the turnover battle 3–0, which became the biggest statistical difference in the contest.
| Match Detail | Seattle Seahawks | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| Date | September 27, 2026 | September 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Northwest Stadium | Northwest Stadium |
| Record After Game | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Total Yards | 437 | 258 |
| First Downs | 28 | 17 |
| Plays | 64 | 65 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.8 | 4.0 |
| Possession | 28:32 | 31:28 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Penalties | 8 | 9 |
| Penalty Yards | 53 | 57 |
Sam Darnold Player Stats
Sam Darnold was one of the biggest statistical performers in the game. The Seahawks quarterback completed 31 of 45 passes for 379 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. His passer rating was 105.7. Darnold repeatedly moved the Seattle offense downfield and helped the Seahawks overcome a 14-point deficit during the second half.
Darnold’s four touchdown passes went to four different targets. He connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba twice, while Eric Saubert and Cooper Kupp also found the end zone. His second interception, however, became the defining moment of the game because Kain Medrano returned it 50 yards for a touchdown with less than four minutes remaining.
| Passing Player | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold, SEA | 31/45 | 379 | 4 | 2 | 105.7 |
| Marcus Mariota, WAS | 19/31 | 183 | 3 | 0 | 110.0 |
Marcus Mariota Leads Washington Offense
Marcus Mariota received the start for Washington and produced an efficient performance. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. His touchdown passes went to Rachaad White, Treylon Burks, and Terry McLaurin. Mariota also added 11 rushing yards on five attempts.
Mariota did not match Darnold’s passing yardage, but Washington did not need a high-volume passing performance. The Commanders protected the football, created three takeaways on defense, and used important runs late in the game to keep Seattle from getting another possession. Mariota’s final rushing first down also helped Washington close out the victory.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Delivers Another Big Performance
Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his excellent opening to the season with 10 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. His scores came on a one-yard reception in the second quarter and an 11-yard reception in the fourth. He was the Seahawks’ leading receiver and remained one of Darnold’s most reliable targets throughout the afternoon.
Smith-Njigba’s performance also added to his impressive 2026 season totals. Through three games, he had reached 27 receptions for 405 yards and six touchdowns, according to a Week 3 statistical review. Despite Seattle’s defeat, his production remained one of the major offensive storylines from the matchup.
| Seattle Receiver | Receptions | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 10 | 128 | 2 |
| AJ Barner | 5 | 69 | 0 |
| Tory Horton | 3 | 48 | 0 |
| Cooper Kupp | 4 | 46 | 1 |
| Brady Russell | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Rashid Shaheed | 2 | 14 | 0 |
| Eric Saubert | 1 | 13 | 1 |
Washington Receiving and Rushing Stats
Terry McLaurin led Washington’s receiving group with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play came in the third quarter when Mariota found him for a 30-yard touchdown. Treylon Burks also scored on an 11-yard reception in the second quarter, while Rachaad White added a six-yard receiving touchdown in the opening period.
Washington’s ground game was less productive than Seattle’s passing attack, but the Commanders used their rushing plays effectively late in the game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt carried 19 times for 36 yards, while White added 35 yards on eight attempts. White’s 19-yard run during the final possession helped Washington take valuable time off the clock before Mariota completed the closing sequence.
| Washington Player | Role | Stat Line |
|---|---|---|
| Terry McLaurin | Receiving | 6 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD |
| Stefon Diggs | Receiving | 4 REC, 33 YDS |
| Jaylin Lane | Receiving | 1 REC, 21 YDS |
| Treylon Burks | Receiving | 2 REC, 13 YDS, 1 TD |
| Rachaad White | Rushing | 8 CAR, 35 YDS |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Rushing | 19 CAR, 36 YDS |
| Marcus Mariota | Rushing | 5 CAR, 11 YDS |
Seattle Seahawks Rushing and Receiving Stats
Seattle’s passing production was strong, but the rushing attack struggled against Washington’s defense. The Seahawks finished with only 44 rushing yards, according to the Commanders’ official statistical report. Emanuel Wilson carried nine times for 14 yards, Jadarian Price had five carries for 15 yards, and George Holani added 10 yards on three attempts.
The limited rushing output placed additional pressure on Darnold and the passing game. Seattle still moved the ball efficiently through the air, with Smith-Njigba, Barner, Horton, and Kupp providing consistent contributions. The Seahawks’ ability to generate 437 total yards shows that the offense created enough production to win, but the three turnovers prevented that yardage advantage from becoming a victory.
| Seattle Rusher | Carries | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emanuel Wilson | 9 | 14 | 0 |
| Jadarian Price | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| George Holani | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Sam Darnold | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Turnovers Become the Decisive Factor
Turnovers were the central story of the Week 3 matchup. Seattle committed three turnovers while Washington committed none. The Seahawks still gained 437 yards and recorded 28 first downs, but Washington converted its takeaways into 21 points. That efficiency allowed the Commanders to survive despite being outgained by 179 yards.
The biggest takeaway came late in the fourth quarter. Darnold’s pass was intercepted by Kain Medrano at the Washington 50-yard line, and Medrano returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, leaving Washington ahead 33–24. Seattle scored again with Kupp, but there was not enough time left for another comeback.
Biggest Moments of the Game
Washington’s early touchdown from White gave the Commanders an important start, but Seattle responded and kept the game within reach. The teams traded touchdowns and long field goals in the second quarter, including 57-yard kicks from Jason Myers and Drew Stevens. Washington entered halftime with a 17–10 advantage.
The third quarter gave Washington its largest lead when McLaurin caught Mariota’s 30-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–10. Seattle answered through Saubert and then Smith-Njigba, eventually tying the game at 24–24. Stevens’ 36-yard field goal restored Washington’s lead before Medrano’s pick-six delivered the decisive cushion.
| Important Play | Result |
|---|---|
| Rachaad White 6-yard TD catch | Washington takes early lead |
| JSN 1-yard TD catch | Seattle ties game at 7 |
| Treylon Burks 11-yard TD | Washington retakes lead |
| Terry McLaurin 30-yard TD | Washington leads 24–10 |
| JSN 11-yard TD | Game tied 24–24 |
| Drew Stevens 36-yard FG | Washington leads 27–24 |
| Kain Medrano 50-yard pick-six | Washington leads 33–24 |
| Cooper Kupp 7-yard TD | Seattle cuts deficit to 33–31 |
Match Summary
The Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders matchup showed how turnovers can outweigh a major advantage in offensive production. Seattle finished with 437 total yards compared with Washington’s 258, yet the Commanders forced three turnovers and committed none themselves. Darnold’s 379 passing yards and Smith-Njigba’s 128 receiving yards highlighted Seattle’s offensive production. Washington instead relied on timely scoring, Mariota’s three touchdown passes, and defensive takeaways to stay ahead.
Washington’s 33–31 victory improved the Commanders to 1–2 and ended Seattle’s 12-game winning streak. Seattle showed enough offensive production to make a comeback, but Medrano’s interception return and Washington’s final possession proved decisive. The Seahawks now moved to 2–1 after their first loss of the season. The Week 3 game will stand out as a close contest decided by execution in critical moments rather than total offensive yardage.
Stay More Update FEATURE POSTS
