5 Standouts From The Commanders Home-Opening Victory

The Washington Commanders returned to Northwest Stadium on Sunday for a rainy home opener against the reigning Super Bowl champion, Seattle Seahawks. Despite entering Week three shorthanded, Washington delivered a complete performance, defeating Seattle 33-31 to earn its first victory of the season, while handing the Seahawks their first loss. 

Here are five standouts from the Commanders from the home opening victory:

1. Quarterback Marcus Mariota

With starting Quarterback Jayden Daniels out with a dislocated shoulder from week two against the Dallas Cowboys, Marcus Mariota stepped up and commanded Washington’s offense. His experience, leadership, and his ability to make plays made it easy to put

Mariota finished the day completing 19-of-31 passes for 183 yards and even connected with wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Treylon Burks, along with running back Rashaad White for touchdown scores. It marked the first time since week eight of the 2022 season that the quarterback has thrown for three touchdowns in a game.

Washington's defense converted an interception into a touchdown making the score 33-24 late in the fourth. But it was a Sam Darnold 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cooper Kupp that brought the within just 2-points with under three minutes remaining. The Commanders offense made their way back on the field and Mariota on third-and-7 faked out the defense, kept the ball and rushed for nine yards. To seal the victory, all he had to kneel from there.

Mariota's presence and leadership on Sunday gave fans faith in offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme, but also the depth of this Commanders team.

2. Linebacker Kain Medrano

Linebacker Kain Medrano has always been player who had a role on Washington's special teams, since being selected by the team in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. But when his name was called on Sunday to step on defense, he truly embraced that next-man-up mentality. Frankie Luvu was ruled out of Sunday's home opener with a groin injury, while Jordan Magee was placed on injured/reserve with a hamstring sprain.

In the first half of Sunday's matchup, Leo Chenal collided with running back Emanuel Hudson on a tackle and was ruled out the game with a neck injury. Naturally, a lot of responsibility fell on the depth of linebacker room as they entered the second half without three key contributors in that room. Medrano was the next guy up. He recorded five crucial tackles, three solo and two assisted, in the second half and even got a sack on quarterback Sam Darnold.

However, his biggest moment came late in the fourth quarter. The momentum fell positively in hands of Seattle with a touchdown to tie the game 24-24 early in the fourth. But on second-and-15, and Seattle down by just three after a Drew Stevens field goal, Medrano picked off Darnold's pass to A.J. Barner and returned it 50 yards for a Commanders touchdown. This moment helped Washington seal the victory and earned Medrano a game ball.

3. Linebacker Sonny Styles

Although it was a rainy day on the field, the game ended with some sunshine. Sonny Styles delivered a standout performance on Sunday recording five tackles, a quarterback hit, his first career interception, two pass breakups, and even forced a fumble. His presence was felt throughout the whole game as he swarmed upfront on runs, suffocating Seattle's offense, and helped Washington's defense force the Seahawks to punt, fumble, and punt on their first three possessions.

One his biggest plays came four minutes into the game, when Styles punched the ball out of the hands of Seahawks running back Jadarian Price on a Seattle first down. Defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. then recovered the loose ball, marking the Commanders first defensive turnover on the season. That play made him the first Washington rookie linebacker to force a fumble since safety Tyler Owens in 2019.

But that wasn't play in the game marked history for Styles early on in his career. In the third quarter, he jumped across to secure a tipped ball that got him his first career interception. Styles' dominant performanced showed more than why he was best the decision for the Commanders in the first round of this year's draft.

4. Cornerback Amik Robertson

Cornerback Amik Robertson delivered a stellar performance in Washington's home-opening victory. Robertson was everywhere on the field, breaking up passes, making tough open-field tackles, and was a huge contributor in Washington's efforts of forcing Seattle punts.

Robertson finished leading Washington with six tackles, a career-high of four pass deflections in the first half, and even had a crucial forced fumble that shifted the momentum in game. He also was targeted for a team-high of nine times, while matching up against star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Robertson was truly the anchor of the game within Washington's secondary.

5. Wide Receiver Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin finally had the game that Washington fans had been waiting to see. McLaurin finished the day catching six passes for 77 yards, and a touchdown. His biggest play of the game came in the third quarter with a 30-yard score, following a Sonny Styles' interception.