Commanders Beat Seahawks 33-31 to End Winning Streak
- The Seattle Seahawks saw their 12-game winning streak come to an end on Sept.
- Turnovers proved to be the most glaring shortcoming for the Seahawks, directly accounting for 21 points for the Commanders.
- Sam Darnold Earlier in the first quarter, rookie running back Jadarian Price also lost a fumble that Washington recovered, marking his second lost fumble in as many games.
The Seattle Seahawks saw their 12-game winning streak come to an end on Sept. 27, 2026, falling 33-31 to the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland. The road loss dropped the defending Super Bowl champions to a 2-1 record on the season while exposing critical vulnerabilities in ball security and run production.
Turnovers Cost Seattle Three Scores Against Washington
Turnovers proved to be the most glaring shortcoming for the Seahawks, directly accounting for 21 points for the Commanders. Quarterback Sam Darnold returned from a glute injury and completed 31 of 45 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns. However, his two interceptions heavily damaged Seattle’s chances.
Darnold threw a pick-6 with 3:57 left in the game, which marked the first interception returned for a touchdown he had given up in five years. Darnold shouldered the blame after the final whistle.
Yeah, just bad decision.
Sam Darnold
Earlier in the first quarter, rookie running back Jadarian Price also lost a fumble that Washington recovered, marking his second lost fumble in as many games. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald addressed the rookie’s struggles after the game.
JD grasps the situation and must protect the football; there are fundamental areas where we can concentrate our efforts, and we plan to keep handing him the ball because our confidence in him remains high. We know that he’s going to work hard to do his part as well.
Mike Macdonald
Offensive Bright Spots Counterbalanced by Run Game Struggles
While the offense generated production through the air, the ground game stalled completely. The Seahawks rushed for just 44 total yards against Washington, including a meager 19 yards in the second half. The team is currently missing running back Kenneth Walker III, though Zach Charbonnet could return to practice from the physically unable to perform list next week.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his dominant form, catching 10 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Smith-Njigba leads the league with 405 receiving yards and six touchdowns through the first three games of the season, and he even completed a 14-yard pass against Washington. Tight end AJ Barner also had a breakout performance, catching five passes for 69 yards as part of a 105-yard day for Seattle’s tight end corps.
Defensive Shortfalls and Injury Concerns Ahead of Week 4
Seattle’s defense failed to force any turnovers against Washington, a stark contrast to an offense that gave away possessions. Coach Macdonald expressed a mix of urgency and motivation regarding the defensive output.
We feel great enthusiasm regarding the potential of our roster and the squad we strive to become. Furthermore, we carry a pressing need for action alongside a sharp reality check reminding us that we have not yet reached that level. We have room to grow. Fortunately, we are at an early stage of the campaign, giving us a chance to rectify matters.
Mike Macdonald
The defense also played without safety Julian Love, whose calf tightened up during practice during the week leading up to the game. Love is listed as day-to-day, while fellow safety Ty Okada has missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury.
Hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4
The Seahawks return home to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The Chargers enter the matchup with a 0-3 record following a 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Seattle aims to rebound from its first defeat since Nov. 16 and correct the turnover and ground-game issues before returning home.