6 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' phenomenal upset over the Seahawks

Winner No. 3

Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB

Jayden Daniels is considered week-to-week with his dislocated elbow. Surgery isn't being considered right now, and he will not go onto injured reserve. But until he gets the all-clear, the Washington Commanders need veteran Marcus Mariota to hold down the fort.

Mariota is widely regarded as one of the league's most reliable backup options. He showcased exactly why against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Commanders didn't skip a beat with Mariota under center. He provided calm, made his opportunities count, and protected the football. The numbers were not staggering by any stretch, but he did just enough to keep Washington in control of the contest.

Even when the Seahawks threatened to take over the game late, Mariota stayed composed. And when the Commanders' defense gave him a chance to see out the game, he came through.

Just when Daniels returns remains to be seen. But the Commanders are in safe hands with Mariota until then.

Loser No. 1

Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB

Even though the Commanders put in a tremendous overall performance at Northwest Stadium in their home opener, it wasn't good news for everybody. Once again, that brings cornerback Mike Sainristil under the microscope.

Sainristil is dealing with some confidence issues right now. The Commanders used him in nickel packages only to start the game, and he was barely seen on the field over the first half. When he was more involved after the break, there were some real frailties.

Fortunately, this didn't impact Washington's ability to come through when it mattered most. What this did prove is how well the Commanders' secondary can function without Sainristil starting on the boundary. And when Trey Amos gets back from injured reserve, the Michigan product could be firmly on the fringes.

While the result is all that matters, Sainristil is regressing. It'll be interesting to see how much defensive coordinator Daronte Jones trusts him moving forward.

Winner No. 4

Kain Medrano - Commmanders LB

With Frankie Luvu out and Leo Chenal leaving the game, the Commanders had to think on their feet at linebacker. Kain Medrano was active, and during his first taste of NFL regular-season snaps in the defensive rotation, he announced himself to the entire league.

Medrano was far from perfect. He missed a few tackles, failed to get his angles right, and paid the price. That wasn't surprising, but the 2025 sixth-round selection out of UCLA made the day's biggest play to tip the scales in Washington's favor.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold made a rash decision when edge rusher Odafe Oweh applied pressure. Medrano jumped the pass to tight end AJ Barner, taking it all the way back for a pick-six that sent delirium through the stands.

This was the confidence boost Medrano needed. He's a strong contributor to special teams, but this may have proved he belonged on the defensive rotation, too. And with Luvu and Chenal's status uncertain, he could be even more involved in Week 4.

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