The Pie Chart of Blame: Five Reasons Why Seahawks Were Upset by Commanders
The Seahawks rolled into Landover, Maryland as an 8.5-point favorite. They left with their feathery tail between their legs in an upset defeat at the hands of the understaffed Commanders, 33-31. So, what happened?
When a football team loses a game, there is never just one singular moment that leads to the loss. It’s usually a factor of several things that piled up along the way. Let’s try to sort out five reasons.
Injuries to Julian Love, Ty Okada, and Anthony Bradford: 25%
A chunk of this loss can be chalked up to injuries. But not the entire reason.
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Sunk by Turnovers, Stunned by Commanders in 33-31 Defeat
Outscored by 21 points off turnovers, including a killer pick-six thrown by Sam Darnold to Kain Medrano late in the fourth quarter, the Seattle Seahawks fell victim to the underdog Washington Commanders in a stunning 33-31 defeat to lose for the first time since last November.
Playing in his first game since the opener, Darnold threw for 379 yards with four touchdown passes, including a pair of scoring tosses to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, his two picks led to 14 points for the Commanders, sullying an otherwise strong outing from the veteran quarterback. Defensively, Leonard Williams and Derick Hall produced a pair of sacks, but Marcus Mariota managed to throw three touchdowns against a normally formidable unit.
Suffering their first loss of the season, here are five takeaways from Sunday’s unexpected blemish at Northwest Stadium:
1. Losing the turnover battle as well as the points off turnover margin ultimately cost the Seahawks.
Prior to Week 2, the Seahawks had not lost a turnover since the end of the regular season back in January. But that trend has been turned upside down in the early stages of the new campaign, starting with rookie running back Jadarian Price struggling to protect the football in the run game. After losing a fumble in Arizona last week, the first round pick coughed it up again in the first quarter as cornerback Amik Robertson forced it out at the Seattle 21-yard line and Washington recovered. Only a few plays later, Mariota hit running back Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown to put the home team out in front, and the rookie stayed on the sidelines for most of the remainder of the first half in what appeared to be an unofficial benching.
Halftime Observations: Seahawks Dogged by Mistakes, Trail 17-10 to Commanders
Harmed by a litany of penalties on both sides of the ball and a lost fumble by rookie running back Jadarian Price, the Seattle Seahawks allowed two touchdown passes to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota as the Washington Commanders took an unexpected 17-10 lead into halftime at Northwest Stadium.
Here are three quick takeaways from a mostly sloppy first half in Landover:
1. Looking healthy and moving well, Darnold started to find a rhythm late in the first quarter as a facilitator.
Returning to the lineup after missing most of the past two games with a glute injury, Darnold’s mobility got tested early as Washington’s front line flushed him from the pocket a couple of times on Seattle’s first two offensive possessions. He moved well and didn’t show any reservations about taking off in his first game back in the lineup, but two of the first three series ended with quick Michael Dickson punts as he completed two out of four passes for just 16 yards, not attempting any throws beyond 10 yards up to that point.
Seahawks Injury Report: Sam Darnold Set to Return, Safety Spot Short-Handed vs. Commanders
After missing one game with a glute injury and returning to practice this week, Sam Darnold will be back under center for the Seattle Seahawks when they hit the road for their first East coast trip of the 2026 season to face the Washington Commanders, but they will be without one of their biggest stars on defense.
Listed as a full participant on Thursday and Friday after being limited on Wednesday, Darnold successfully ramped up his activity as the week progressed without any setbacks, paving the way for the Seahawks to be comfortable with him returning to the lineup. Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the Pro Bowl quarterback would suit up in Landover after a strong week.
“He’s been really positive and feels great, looks great. We’re rolling,” Macdonald said, jokingly adding with a smile, “It’s a medical miracle.”
Seahawks Notebook: Sam Darnold Returns to Practice, QB Decision Expected by Friday
RENTON, Wash. - While it remains unclear whether or not Sam Darnold will be able to play against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, signs continue to be encouraging as he recovers from a unique glute injury suffered in the Seattle Seahawks’ season opener on September 9.
Speaking with the media for his Wednesday availability, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reaffirmed Darnold would practice on Wednesday, acknowledging that he will split reps with Drew Lock. The team will evaluate him by day to determine how to proceed potentially increasing reps as they draw closer to the weekend with hopes of making a decision on which quarterback will start by the end of the practice week.
"He's not going to take every rep today,” Macdonald updated. “Then we'll kind of ramp it up as the week goes."
Darnold exited Seattle’s opener just six plays into the game after his right knee crashed into the turf while being brought down by Patriots defensive end Dre’Mont Jones for a third down sack. He spent a brief moment in the injury tent before hobbling alongside trainers to the locker room, where he eventually was ruled out for the remainder of the night as Lock took the controls under center and orchestrated a second half comeback for a 13-10 victory.
‘Got My Schedule Down’: Drew Lock Sticking to Process Gearing Up for Rare Seahawks Start in Arizona
Now in the midst of his eighth NFL season and not far off from his 30th birthday, Seattle Seahawks veteran Drew Lock has a pretty good beat on how the practice week changes when injuries strike and the opportunity presents itself to start.
But as Lock ramps up preparation to make his first regular season start since 2024 when Seattle travels to Arizona for its NFC West opener, the former Missouri star isn’t reinventing the wheel by any means. Though he will get the bulk of the first-team snaps under center on the practice field with Jalen Milroe occasionally subbing in, a far cry from his usual workload where he might get 10 snaps in a week if lucky, he has settled into a routine over the past several seasons serving as a backup that he won’t detour away from much, if at all, going into Sunday.
Expressing as much in a playful manner behind the podium prior to Thursday’s practice, Lock joked that he "started sweating at 11 instead of 2” when asked about the biggest differences between work days this week as the announced starter compared to the norm when Sam Darnold gets all of the reps.
“I'm attacking this week. It's obviously not the same because I'm going out and doing more in practice, in ACTs, but with the same mindset as I would if I wasn't playing,” Lock explained. “Or in the rare occasion last week where I was… You install first and second down on Wednesdays. By the time it gets to Friday night or Saturday, you don't forget about the first and second down plays. You start focus on third down and red zone. No, I feel like I've been through this process enough. I've got my schedule down, and I'm sticking by it.”
No Oasis for Seahawks: Cardinals Ready to Make It a Fight in Desert
Every fan does it. When their team’s schedule is released, they immediately pour over it, looking for the assumed “easy” wins. Most rational fans would have pointed to the Seattle Seahawks, who are the defending Super Bowl champions, winning their Week 2 matchup in the desert with the lowly Arizona Cardinals.
Now, after one week of data on each team, this trip to the desert will not be one of luxury, laying poolside sipping prickly pear margaritas for Seattle. The Cardinals look feisty. They look hungry. Rookie head coach Mike LaFleur just took down one of the AFC’s assumed top teams in the Chargers on the road. Arizona racked up nearly 400 yards and held the Bolts to just 268 in the 12-point upset win.
Sam Darnold ‘Killing It’ in Rehab, Confirmed Out for Seahawks at Cardinals in Week 2
From a long-term prognosis standpoint, Sam Darnold appears to be on a trajectory to return in the not-so-distant future for the Seattle Seahawks. But that future won’t be as early as this upcoming weekend.
Rather than dance around the possibility of Darnold potentially being available to play in Arizona against the Cardinals on Sunday, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the Pro Bowl quarterback would sit out this week, yielding the controls to the offense to backup Drew Lock. Fortunately, injured reserve isn’t on the table at the moment, and the organization will revisit his status next week.
“We don’t anticipate putting him on I.R. or anything like that,” Macdonald told reporters. “We’ll just kinda re-evaluate every day and re-evaluate next week. We’ll go from there, but he won’t play this week.”
Knocked out just six plays into Seattle’s season opener, Darnold’s right knee rammed into the turf when New England defensive end Dre’Mont Jones brought him down from behind for a drive-ending third down sack. He hobbled off the field and after trying to shake off the discomfort, he spent a brief moment in the injury tent before limping alongside trainers into the locker room, ruled out late in the second quarter due to a hip injury with Lock playing the remainder of the game.
‘Mr. Clutch’: Drew Lock Delivers Again in Prime Time, Outduels Drake Maye in Seahawks Season-Opening Win
Once the preseason comes to a close and the calendar flips to September, Drew Lock knows all too well the reality of being an NFL backup quarterback. After months of receiving ample snaps rotating behind Sam Darnold, with the start of regular season games, those opportunities dry up to next to nothing with the starter getting the lion’s share of snaps for the Seattle Seahawks.
Relegated to scout team duty or watching from the sideline, staying prepared for the possibility of having to actually play on game day can be incredibly tricky. There’s no such thing as being able to replace or replicate live reps on the field, but yet, that’s exactly what backups such as Lock have to try to accomplish with limited practice time being fully dedicated to the starters. There’s no proven, scientific formula to do so, with each backup having his own routine during a game week to remain ready if his number is called.
But now in his eighth season, after leading the Seahawks to a thrilling 13-10 comeback win over the Patriots replacing an injured Darnold in the first quarter on Wednesday night, Lock seems to have found the right recipe in Seattle. His secret? Well, it starts and ends in the bedroom - with a dry erase marker and a whiteboard - for the player defensive tackle Jarran Reed calls “Mr. Clutch.”
“I've got one next to my bed. I'll do it at night and I'll do it in the morning,” Lock explained to reporters after the game. “That's just been my thing, being able to visualize it so when I read it out it's just there in my head. Because of the lack of reps you don't get to physically do it. I got to be able to draw it from somewhere, no pun intended, and drawing it helps me draw it from somewhere.”
Sam Darnold Exits Seahawks Opener, Ruled Out With Hip Injury
Bringing a worst case scenario to life for the Seattle Seahawks as they begin their Super Bowl title defense, Sam Darnold exited the field after just one series in Wednesday’s season opener against the New England Patriots with a hip injury.
Replacing Darnold just one drive into the opener, Drew Lock took over at the 7:29 mark after the Seahawks’ defense forced a punt on their opening series.
After his first pass went for 13 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnold uncorked an ugly incompletion and then found himself under duress on the ensuing third down. He managed to escape the initial blitzer with his eyes still scanning downfield, but as he tried to move to his left, he was dragged down by veteran defensive end Dre’Mont Jones for a drive-ending sack.
Analysis: Observations From Seahawks’ 2026 Football Fan Fest
Taking the next step towards their upcoming regular season opener against the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks welcomed fans back to Lumen Field for their annual Football Fan Fest practice on Saturday.
As they have done each of the previous two years with coach Mike Macdonald at the helm, Seattle held a full-fledged padded practice rather than a glorified scrimmage, mixing in plenty of individual drills, competitive 1-on-1 reps, and special teams time before implementing situational 11-on-11 team sessions. Crediting the 12s for showing up even with the Mariners playing next door, Macdonald felt pleased with the work his team got done in what amounted to a roughly 100-minute practice.
I really appreciate the effort that everybody took to get out. Thank you,” Macdonald said. “Having a lot of enthusiasm, just really felt the love from the 12s today. So that was really great. And then in addition to that, I think we got some really good work in. It wasn't the longest practice of all time, but we got some good stuff in, and we'll be ready to go next Saturday.”
What stood out at Seattle’s annual Fan Fest?
Camp Takeaways: Cooper Kupp, Seahawks ‘Sharpen Iron’ in Competitive Back-and-Forth 12th Practice
Throughout the constant ebbs and flows of an NFL training camp, most practices offer a clear winner between the offense and defense.
But on Friday morning, for those in attendance at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center taking in the Seattle Seahawks’ 12th practice and penultimate session open to fans, trying to determine a “winner” proved to be far more challenging with a balanced, back-and-forth effort featuring a blend of big plays on offense and turnovers generated on defense.
“Competition, that’s what these practices mean, especially at this time of camp,” receiver Rashid Shaheed told reporters moments after practice concluded. “With all the installs coming in, now it’s just about execution, going out and playing football. When we have a great offense and a great defense, we are going to see some back and forth and push. It’s just going to get us better at the end.”
What stood out from Seattle’s hyper-competitive 12th practice of the summer?
Camp Takeaways: Big Plays Galore as Sam Darnold, Seahawks Torch Skies in Eighth Practice
Smoke descending upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Monday afternoon came from the unfortunate Spokane fires raging on the other side of the state, with expectations air quality will continue to worsen over the next few days.
But putting the true serious nature of the flames in Eastern Washington aside, with Sam Darnold and company lighting up the skies all afternoon, an observer wouldn’t have been off basis for blaming a scorching hot passing game as the culprit for the increasingly hazy conditions in the Seattle Seahawks’ eighth training camp practice.
Coming out firing on all cylinders early in Monday’s session, Darnold zipped a 20-yard bullet to Cooper Kupp on his first throw against Seattle’s No. 1 defense, soon connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a 50-yard touchdown after he came loose working against Nehemiah Pritchett with a subtle push off at the top of the route. On the next series, he ripped a 20-yard completion to Tory Horton on a post route between two tightly converging defenders and then hit Kupp on a 25-yard in-breaking route in a three-play span.
Continuing to find success over the top against the normally stingy Seahawks defense in the next situational team drill, Darnold executed a play fake from under center and promptly set his back foot before launching a bomb down the middle of the field. Flying past rookie cornerback Michael Dansby and rookie safety Bud Clark on a skinny post, speedy receiver Rashid Shaheed had the pass land in his hands in strides for six points on a 55-yard touchdown reception.
Camp Takeaways: Running Backs to Take on Bigger Role in Seahawks’ Passing Game Under Brian Fleury
On the way to the second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks put up sizzling offensive numbers, including setting a new single season record for points scored and finishing eighth in the league in passing yards.
Leading the charge, Jaxon Smith-Njigba recorded 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Shaun Alexander as the second Seahawk to win Offensive Player of the Year honors. Away from the rising superstar, Sam Darnold had plenty of other capable weapons at his disposal, including Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, and standout tight end AJ Barner.
But for as much success as Seattle had attacking opponents through the air last season with former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak calling plays, the team managed to do so without relying much on running backs as receivers. Contrasting from Kyle Shanahan’s offense in San Francisco, the Seahawks finished 31st in targets (63) and 28th in catches (53) without a single touchdown reception from running backs in 2025, only utilizing former starter Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet sparingly in that fashion.
With a new play caller in Brian Fleury now at the wheel replacing the departed Kubiak, however, as Bob Dylan once wrote, the times they are a-changing in the Pacific Northwest.
Lights, Camera, Lombardi: Seahawks Set to Star on Hard Knocks as Title Defense Begins
The show Hard Knocks has been a staple for football fans since its inception in 2001. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the sights and sounds of that show welcome football fans to another season in the NFL. They typically cover a team’s training camp and the team's preparation for the upcoming football season. It’s enjoyable for fans to learn about some of the lower-level players on the roster and root for underdog stories. It typically highlights players fighting to make the roster or battle to become a starter.
Opening camp this upcoming weekend, the Seattle Seahawks will become the first reigning Super Bowl champs to be featured on the show since its inaugural year covering the Baltimore Ravens ahead of their title defense in 2001. The recent trade of the show had been a rebuilding team trying to find its footing, with franchises like the Bears and Jets, or a team right on the cusp of greatness like the Buffalo Bills last summer.
Previously, the Seahawks had been asked to be part of the show in 2013, but declined. The NFL now has the power to select a team to be part of Hard Knocks. Essentially, “volun-telling” them instead of waiting for a volunteer. Certainly, the Seahawks will bring eyeballs to the show as the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Analysis: Debating Seahawks’ Rankings on ESPN Top 10 Lists
During the agonizing buffer period between the conclusion of offseason programs and the start of training camp during June and July, the annual arrival of NFL ranking season comes full force to help fill the gap for football fans.
Among the most notable rankings to be revealed each year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler unleashes a top-10 list for 11 positional groups on offense and defense, using polls of select executives, coaches, and scouts to compile the rankings. The changes from year-to-year can be a fascinating case study in itself, seeing how opinions of certain players change over time with the rankings being predicated on the best players at each position in the present.
Interestingly, after winning Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks only had four players who landed top-10 spots at their respective positions. In contrast, nine other teams had five or more players who received such distinction, including the Lions with a league-high nine players who made the annual lists and the NFC West rival 49ers and Rams each having five apiece.
Looking at this year’s top-10 rankings provided courtesy of Fowler and ESPN, did those who placed votes get it right with the defending champions? Or did they miss the mark with several deserving players?
Where's the Respect? Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Deserves Better Than Constantly Moving the Goalposts
It’s human nature. Sometimes, we make a decision early on about something and can be virtually immovable in that opinion regardless of which direction the winds of change blow, or how hard. It’s called pride. We all have it. We are slow to admit we are wrong and look for any shred of evidence to prove our premature declarations correct, folly or not.
When the Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold last offseason, he still had the stink of a disappointing first six seasons on him. That was even after a breakout 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings that saw him at the helm of a 14-3 football team when he produced just over 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Pundits quickly discredited that redemption arc after a clunker of a playoff game, when the Vikings lost to the Rams 27-9 in the NFC Wild Card Round. Darnold threw one interception, lost a fumble, and was sacked nine times. That was the last time we saw Darnold before signing with Seattle and the media did not forgive him.
Fast forward 12 months from then. Darnold doubled down with yet another 14-3 regular season paired with another 4,000-yard season with 25 passing scores. The national media waved it off as another mirage in the vast Darnold Desert. Then the playoffs started. Even with just 12 completions and 124 passing yards in the Divisional Round against the 49ers, he was efficient and mistake-free with zero turnover-worthy plays. Still, many claimed, “the defense carried him!” or “Ken Walker did all the work!”
“Just wait for the NFC Championship Game against the presumed MVP Matthew Stafford,” they shouted in mass on social media.
Can Seahawks Offense Replicate Last Season’s Fireworks?
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, the Seattle Seahawks are spending the summer scheming ways to defend their Super Bowl title. While the nation indulges on hot dogs, potato salad, and rocket pops, the reigning champions will dive into preparing for a new season with a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury.
The magic that previous offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterback Sam Darnold created together will be tough to match. It seemed like the offense was a weekly firework show of sorts. Seattle ranked third in scoring and fourth in yards per play in 2025. Of that firework show, the biggest mortars set off were downfield shots to Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Can Darnold and his top receiver recreate that magic with a new scheme and new voice in the headset for 2026?
A Decade With Sam Darnold For Seahawks? One Hall of Fame QB Thinks So
Years from now, many will look back on the offseason where the Seattle Seahawks moved on from Geno Smith and signed free agent Sam Darnold to a three-year deal as one of the most gutsy and pendulum-swinging moves in NFL history. Seattle already had a solid roster and the right head coach in place. Smith had a few good seasons in Seattle but the Seahawks needed a new level of quarterback play.
Darnold had just finished a stellar 14-3 season with the Vikings, experiencing a career renaissance under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Unfortunately, things ended abruptly with an ugly playoff loss. Many thought that wherever Darnold went, it wouldn’t be as good as he had it in Minnesota with the offensive guru at head coach and all-world receiver Justin Jefferson at the other end of his throws.
Fast forward to this offseason. After just one year in Seattle, Darnold will never have to buy a drink in the Emerald City ever again. He is the toast of the town. He was named to his second straight Pro Bowl but more importantly, he once again went 14-3 as a starter. This time, he busted those ghosts in the playoffs. He was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the entire postseason, including going blow-for-blow with the league MVP Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship Game.
WATCH: Defense Dominates Red Zone-Heavy Day 3 of Seahawks Minicamp
Bringing the offseason program to an end and ushering in summer break before training camp, Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith breaks down what he saw and heard at the Seahawks' third and final mandatory minicamp practice, including an opportunistic defense racking up interceptions and pick sixes in a high energy session at the VMAC.
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