The Washington Commanders' contest against the Las Vegas Raiders could have gone either of two ways. It ended with the best possible outcome.
After taking an ugly Week 2 primetime loss to the Green Bay Packers and losing star quarterback Jayden Daniels to a knee sprain, the Commanders desperately needed to respond. It was all on the shoulders of Washington's other former Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller, Marcus Mariota, to deliver the goods.
Just as he did in his two appearances with significant snaps last season, Mariota was up to the task in a crucial victory for the Commanders.
Mariota went 15-for-21 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown in the win, while also rushing for 40 yards and a score on six carries. It was a performance in line with his two relief outings in 2024, when he led the Commanders to victories over the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys.
Aside from a first-quarter fumble, Mariota was nearly flawless in moving the ball downfield. The Commanders' offense was humming all afternoon, a testament to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury establishing the run and making his passer's life easier. The quarterback was set up to succeed, and he capitalized on the opportunity.
In many ways, Mariota is the perfect insurance for Daniels. In addition to their noted similarities upon entering the league, they are both dual-threat quarterbacks known for extending plays with their athleticism.
The former Tennessee Titans No. 2 draft pick has never been as dynamic as last year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he is much more experienced. Mariota's veteran steadiness was able to provide a reset for an offense that looked out of sorts in Week 2.
Ideally, Mariota's services won't be required in Week 4 when the Commanders visit the Atlanta Falcons, but it's a scenario Washington must prepare for. It's unclear how long Daniels will be out, and it doesn't sound like he was particularly close to being able to play against the Raiders. He could potentially be out of commission for several weeks.
That all should make Washington fans grateful to have Mariota as their Plan B. There aren't many better backups in the league, and he proved that once again at Northwest Stadium.
Daniels is the face of the franchise, but he can't be the entire team. This win reminded the Commanders that, should his services be unavailable, they have the right guy to step up to the plate in his absence.