Mariota and Medrano lift Commanders past Seahawks, 33–31

Washington held off Seattle 33–31 at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, September 27, with Marcus Mariota throwing three touchdown passes and Kain Medrano returning an interception for a fourth-quarter score.

The Commanders led 17–10 at halftime. Sonny Styles intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Mariota then connected with Terry McLaurin for a touchdown that helped extend the lead to 24–10.

Seattle cut the deficit to 24–17 on a touchdown pass to Eric Saubert, then tied the game at 24 on a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Drew Stevens put Washington back ahead with a 36-yard field goal with 4:34 remaining.

Medrano’s 50-yard interception return extended the advantage to 33–24 after Stevens missed the extra point. In the team’s postgame press conference, Medrano described getting underneath the checkdown route before finding open field. He said he “saw green grass and had to show off my wide receiver skills.”

A seven-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp brought Seattle within 33–31 with 2:51 left, but Washington converted two third downs on its final possession. Rachaad White ran for 19 yards on third-and-nine, and Mariota later kept the ball for nine yards on third-and-seven to help run out the clock.

“I thought it was just a good wrinkle at the end,” Mariota said of the late keeper in his postgame press conference.

Mariota’s touchdown passes also included an 11-yard connection with Treylon Burks in the second quarter. Washington played without Jayden Daniels, who was listed out with an elbow injury.