Marcus Mariota's poise
Marcus Mariota did not look flustered at any stage. He was never going to have the same dynamism that Jayden Daniels brings to the table, but the Washington Commanders didn't need it. They required him to manage the game effectively and come through in key moments.
Mariota's been in the league a long time. He's had ups and downs, but these experiences served him well. Not having Daniels was an obvious blow, but the backup has the poise to get everyone focused in the absence of Washington's franchise player.
It wasn't perfect. There were some timing issues as anticipated, but nothing to overly concern. Mariota knew when to get the football out. Had there not been some unacceptable drops throughout the game, things would have looked even better from a statistical standpoint.
Being composed in the face of pressure doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but it puts everyone at ease. It's also why Mariota is considered among the league's best understudies at football's most crucial position.
Losing Daniels could have had a catastrophic impact. But everyone within the Commanders believes in Mariota. His flawless demeanor and ability to move on from one play to the next are big reasons why.
Marcus Mariota's solid first half
It was a solid if not spectacular first half from Marcus Mariota. The fumble after leaving his feet on a run was a significant blemish on his performance, but the signal-caller was mistake-free for the most part.
This was about emerging from the game relatively unscathed without Jayden Daniels to depend upon. Mariota ticked all those boxes except for one error. He kept things ticking over, controlled the line of scrimmage well, and went through his progressions effectively enough.
Again, there were some issues. But considering how most backup quarterbacks around the league flounder when tasked with starting responsibilities, it could have been a whole lot worse.
The Commanders made things more complicated than needed. Fortunately, nobody panics under this current regime. They are made of sterner stuff, and Mariota became the embodiment of that.
Mariota didn't have to be a hero. He is a creative game manager at this stage of his career. It's a role he's assumed extremely well, and his confidence transitioned to everyone else as the game went on.
He'd probably like to have a few throws and the fumble back. But as stated previously, the Commanders are fortunate to have this caliber of backup at their disposal when Daniels can't go.