Commanders Made Key Change to Fix Terry McLaurin's Role

Washington knocked off Seattle 33-31 Sunday in its home opener, handing the defending Super Bowl champions their first loss since last November.

• Backup QB Marcus Mariota went 19-for-31 for 183 yards and three touchdowns.
• Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles recorded four tackles and forced two turnovers.
• Washington's defense forced three turnovers after generating zero through two weeks.
• Terry McLaurin caught six passes for 77 yards and his first touchdown of the season.

Why it matters: Washington was playing without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, out with an elbow injury suffered in Week 2.

• An 0-3 start would have severely damaged Washington's early-season standing.

How 8 sources split on this story

What’s next: Washington travels to London to face Indianapolis on Oct. 4.

• The team awaits the return of Daniels, whose timeline remains unclear.
• When will Jayden Daniels return from his elbow injury?
• Can Mariota sustain this level of play if Daniels misses more time?