Terry McLaurin looked back to his best
The Washington Commanders didn't have quarterback Jayden Daniels under center. Therefore, veteran backup Marcus Mariota needed the support of his big-time playmakers, and wide receiver Terry McLaurin was at the forefront.
McLaurin has had a quiet start to the season, but this was much more like the player Washington fans have come to love. He was outstanding throughout, giving Mariota a useful outlet at all three levels of the field and even coming up with a jaw-dropping touchdown catch to put the Commanders up by two scores early in the second half.
The second-team All-Pro eventually finished the game with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. McLaurin raised the bar, and this is the standard everyone will anticipate moving forward.
Marcus Mariota's solid afternoon
Marcus Mariota faced a lot of pressure heading into the contest. The veteran had big shoes to fill, but it wasn't unfamiliar territory for him. And all things considered, it was a solid day at the office.
Mariota looked poised. He was largely accurate, getting the football out on time. The Oregon product used his mobility to escape the pocket effectively, and good things happened when the tempo was high.
The Commanders couldn't get much going on the ground later in the game. This put even more onus on Mariota to deliver the goods, and he couldn't have done much more against a top-level defense.
He got a little bit of good luck along the way, but Mariota earned it.
Kain Medrano finally became a difference-maker
The Commanders had no choice but to finally give Kain Medrano reps in the defensive rotation. He was thrown into the fire against a high-octane offense, but the 2025 sixth-round selection has been waiting patiently for his big chance to impress.
And boy, did he take advantage of it.
With the Seahawks seemingly turning the screw on offense, things were hanging precariously for the Commanders. Enter Medrano, who jumped a Darnold pass and took it all the way to the house for a 50-yard pick-six.
Medrano shook Northwest Stadium to its foundations. And this is the best possible way to inspire trust from the coaching staff.
Commanders hold their nerve for a monumental upset
The end of the game was nerve-wracking. But the Commanders held their nerve for a morale-boosting triumph.
This was a monumental upset. Morale hadn't been much lower, so to dig deep for a priceless win against the defending Super Bowl champions was nothing short of astonishing. And the whole mood around the organization lifted in the face of one of the league's best defenses.
It's a sign of how much this squad is still fighting. Things haven't started well, but the Commanders are displaying the sort of grit that has become synonymous with the culture built by Quinn.
And maybe, just maybe, all hope is not lost yet.
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