With Jayden Daniels out, Marcus Mariota exhibits significance to Washington Commanders

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LANDOVER, Md. — While the Washington Commanders await quarterback Jayden Daniels’ return from setback — a frustratingly acquainted storyline the previous two seasons — they will solely hope to be in higher form upon his return than they had been when he left.

For that to occur, Washington should get issues rotated rapidly. And though the duty appeared daunting in Sunday’s house opener in opposition to the defending Super Bowl champs, that, because the saying goes, is why they action the video games.

On a dreary, wet day at Northwest Stadium, the Commanders earned their first victory in three video games this stretch and ended the Seattle Seahawks’ 12-game profitable streak courting to final stretch. Washington left the sphere victorious for simply the third time since final October, having shocked the Seahawks with three touchdowns from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota en path to a 33-31 victory.

With Mariota offering management for a bunch that desperately wanted a confidence enhance, the Commanders overcame a 10-catch, 128-yard, two-touchdown attempt from peerless Seahawks large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (he’s absurdly nice). They had been opportunistic on protection, gathering three turnovers, together with a 50-yard interception return for a landing, and stopping the Seahawks on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

The mixture enabled Washington to allay the fears of its long-suffering followers, albeit maybe solely briefly, that one other horrific stretch is a fait accompli after highway losses to NFC East division rivals Philadelphia and Dallas to open the 12 months.

Finally, the Commanders have a victory, which is all the time cause to have a good time. Or for his or her followers, at the least exhale.

Mariota was the most important catalyst for change.

“When you start off with two division road games, it’s tough,” mentioned Mariota, who accomplished 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards with no turnovers.

“It’s tough in this league. … You get knocked down at different points in the year. [Sunday’s victory] just shows a lot about the guys in the locker room. One-and-two is not where we want to be. But that was a huge win for us moving forward.”

Marcus Mariota celebrates the 33-31 conquer in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Maryland. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Commanders will depend on Mariota to assist construct on Sunday’s success.

It’s unclear when Daniels will return after struggling one other elbow dislocation on his non-throwing left arm in opposition to the Cowboys per week in the past. Last stretch, Daniels missed seven video games associated to the preliminary elbow dislocation and his subsequent shutdown.

Over the previous two seasons, he has missed 11 video games due to his elbow points, a knee pressure and a pulled hamstring. The 2024 Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels has been sensational when he’s been capable of go well with up.

The downside is retaining him wholesome.

That’s why Mariota’s presence — each on and off the sphere — is so essential to the Commanders.

The wily veteran, who’s in his twelfth 12 months within the league, put in a lot work in opposition to the Seahawks, he wanted a pick-me-up. Late within the sport, as Washington tried to hold onto the victory, the 32-year-old disappeared into the locker room.

“I need IVs,” Mariota mentioned, eliciting laughter from reporters within the postgame information convention. “My workload hasn’t been this a lot shortly. My physique wasn’t prepared for it.

“Big-time credit to our training staff and our athletic medicine [staff]. That’s not easy to do, especially in the middle of a game like that. But, yeah, I went and got an IV bag and was able to come back out.”

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To All-Pro Commanders large receiver Terry McLaurin, Mariota seemed like a younger fella in opposition to the Seahawks.

“Marcus is an unbelievable person, a human being, first and foremost,” mentioned McLaurin, who had six catches for 77 yards, together with a 30-yard landing reception within the third quarter as Washington took a 24-10 carry.

“He just comes in our building every single day looking to serve. When he’s in the backup role and Jayden’s starting, he’s doing nothing by supporting Jayden, supporting us and being communicative on the sidelines. When he’s in there [playing], we believe wholeheartedly he could give us a chance to win a football game.”

No doubt, that was the case Sunday. But the Commanders nonetheless have loads of room for enchancment.

They had been outgained in complete yards 437-258. They transformed simply one in all their first 11 third-down tries, and completed 3-for-13. If not for Seattle’s three turnovers, Sunday’s end result may have been one other downer for the Commanders and their followers.

For now, Daniels is pushing aside having surgical procedure to restore his broken elbow. When he returns, he’ll put on a brace. It’s unlikely, nonetheless, the 25-year-old might be again for Washington’s Week 4 sport in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts in London.

Whatever Washington continues to want, Mariota will do his greatest to supply.

“You never understand truly how much you impact those around you,” he mentioned. “I’ve always felt like the more that I can serve others and be there for my team, the better the team is gonna be.”

Clearly, the Commanders are grateful for all Mariota gives. They’d simply moderately not must name on him a lot.

Jason Reid is the senior NFL author at Andscape. He enjoys watching sports activities, particularly any video games involving his son and daughter.