{
  "id": 10398378,
  "title": "How good was Commanders QB Marcus Mariota? Really good",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/how-good-was-commanders-qb-marcus-mariota-really-good",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-28T08:05:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/good-commanders-qb-marcus-mariota-080502477.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Almost everyone anticipated the Washington Commanders' Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks to result in a loss. The Seahawks had won 12 consecutive games and were the reigning Super Bowl champions, whereas the Commanders were 0-2 and lacked several starting players, including quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, 12th-year veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota had other ideas. Starting his ninth game for the Commanders in place of Daniels since 2024, Mariota was prepared for the task at hand. After rookie linebacker Sonny Styles recovered a fumble on Seattle's opening drive, Mariota connected with running back Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown. When the Seahawks retaliated, Mariota responded equally effectively, finding wide receiver Treylon Burks for an 11-yard touchdown. Despite the Commanders being outgained on the day, Mariota maintained control for most of the contest. In the third quarter, Mariota threw his third touchdown of the game to Terry McLaurin, extending the Commanders' lead to 24-10. Seattle mounted a comeback, but Mariota remained undeterred. In the final moments, Washington required a first down. With the Seahawks having exhausted their last timeout, Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough opted for a zone read play. Instead of passing, Mariota retained the ball and ran for nine yards to the Seattle 35-yard line. This move calmed Washington fans. The Commanders emerged victorious 33-31. On Friday, Mariota was officially named a permanent captain for the season, a notable honor for a backup quarterback. This victory, combined with his impressive performance, underscores how exceptional Mariota truly was. He concluded the game with a stellar 110.0 quarterback rating and a 61.8 QBR (as reported by ESPN). ESPN analyst Doug Farrar highlighted this point with a stat: out of every passer rating of every quarterback against the Seahawks' defense from Week 1 of the 2025 season to Week 2 of the 2026 season, the combined rating stood at a mere 77.8. In contrast, Marcus Mariota's rating that day was an impressive 110.0.",
  "summary": "Commanders QB Marcus Mariota was phenomenal in Washington's upset win over the Seahawks. The numbers don't lie.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}