LANDOVER, Md. -- Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota, subbing for the injured Jayden Daniels, reminded the NFL that the organization has another former Heisman Trophy winner -- and former No. 2 pick -- who still can play.
With Daniels nursing a dislocated left elbow, Washington needed exactly what Mariota delivered Sunday: a flawless three-touchdown, no-interception performance in a 33-31 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks (2-1).
"As long as Marcus is back there we have trust in him, just like we have trust in Jayden," receiver Terry McLaurin said.
It was the Commanders' first win of the season and followed an ugly 37-20 loss at Dallas in Week 2. With a seven-hour flight awaiting them to London on Tuesday night ahead of a game against the Colts this coming weekend, it was a necessary win. It also was a difficult one with four starters in addition to Daniels out with injuries: linebacker Frankie Luvu, tight end Chig Okonkwo, right guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross.
"It's one week," Mariota said, "but it could be a steppingstone for us."
Washington's defense forced three turnovers, including a pick-six by backup linebacker Kain Medrano in the fourth quarter. The offense turned the other two turnovers into touchdowns as well. Mariota played a key role in each, finishing both drives with touchdown passes.
It wasn't as if Mariota posted spectacular numbers, but he was efficient. He completed 19-of-31 passes for 183 yards. He also clinched the win with a 9-yard run on a third-and-seven keeper around right end. Before their last series, Mariota went into the locker room to get an IV.
"My workload hasn't been this much in a while," he said, laughing.
Not that his teammates were surprised by how he played. When they knew Daniels would miss the game, multiple players asked coach Dan Quinn if they could name Mariota a captain for the rest of the season, a rare move for a backup.
"You can't make it up," said left guard Chris Paul of Mariota's day. "I'd run through a brick wall for him."
It remains uncertain how long Mariota -- the Heisman winner in 2014 and No. 2 pick in '15 -- will start. Daniels, injured on the final play of the first half vs. Dallas, is considered week-to-week. There's a chance Daniels, who won the Heisman in 2013 and was picked second in '14, will accompany the team to London, but that wouldn't necessarily mean he would play vs. the Colts.
So Mariota could continue to be an important piece. Two years ago he relieved an injured Daniels in two games, leading Washington to wins. Last year he started eight games and played in three others, but only posted a 2-6 record as a starter in another injury-filled season for the organization.
But his teammates never lost confidence in him.
"He is a starting quarterback in this league," offensive lineman Nick Allegretti said. "There's probably a dozen or so teams that wish they had him at quarterback. He runs the hell out of the offense and the guys trust him. Having him and Jayden in the same quarterback room is typically something you only have when you have a quarterback on a rookie contract4. But we're very fortunate to have those two guys."
Quinn has often praised Mariota's approach and demeanor and his mentorship of Daniels.
"He's a rare teammate," the coach said.
Mariota's savvy showed on his touchdown passes. On the first, he climbed the pocket to the left and spotted running back Rachaad White on the right and quickly hit him. Later, Mariota connected with Trey Burks for an 11-yard score, holding the backside safety long enough and then quickly turning to his right to hit the receiver running to the middle.
Finally, on the last one, McLaurin said he was supposed to run a 12-yard curl. McLaurin said he beat him so "clean off the release" that he turned it into a go-ball.
"Me and Marcus we have enough time spent to where I trusted he was going to see it," McLaurin said, "and he did."
The Commanders struggled through 2025 because of injuries and did not want a repeat season. Even if they were facing the defending Super Bowl champions, after road losses to Philadelphia and Dallas.
"It is only one win but it's definitely substantial," Allegretti said. "Going down 0-3 would have been very tough."