Honestly, if you’re a Washington fan, you probably want to scrub November 2, 2025, from your memory entirely. It was supposed to be a showcase game. Sunday Night Football. A chance for Jayden Daniels to prove he belonged in the MVP conversation against a surging Seattle team. Instead, it was a nightmare in Landover that felt more like a car crash in slow motion.
The Seahawks didn't just win; they dismantled the Commanders 38-14 in a game that was essentially over by the time the first-half snacks were finished.
But the score isn't even the lead story here. The real gut-punch was seeing Jayden Daniels walk off the field with his arm in an air cast late in the fourth quarter. It felt cruel. The game was already decided—Seattle was up 38-7—and yet there he was, trying to make something happen on a second-and-goal, only to have his non-throwing arm bend in a way that made everyone in the stadium go silent.
Sam Darnold Was Actually Perfect
No, really. This wasn't just "good for Sam Darnold." This was "historic."
The Seahawks’ quarterback started the game 16-for-16. He didn't throw an incomplete pass until the third quarter. Think about that for a second. In an NFL game, where defensive backs are literally paid to ruin your life, he went an entire half without the ball touching the grass. He ended the night with 330 yards and four touchdowns.
Darnold became only the fourth quarterback since 1991 to toss four scores before his first incompletion. It was like he was playing a video game on rookie mode.
✨ Don't miss: Red Sox vs Yankees: What Most People Get Wrong About Baseball's Biggest Feud
The JSN Connection
While Darnold was the surgeon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the scalpel. He didn't even score a touchdown, yet he was arguably the most dominant player on the field. He finished with eight catches for 129 yards.
By halftime, JSN had already racked up 119 yards. That performance didn't just help Seattle win; it tied him with the legendary Steve Largent for the most 100-yard receiving games in a single season in Seahawks history (6). And he did it in only eight games.
Why the Commanders’ Defense Disintegrated
If you looked at the stats before the game, you knew Washington’s secondary was thin. But "thin" turned into "transparent" on Sunday night.
Basically, the Commanders couldn't stop the deep ball or the crossing routes. Sam Darnold averaged a ridiculous 13.8 yards per attempt. To put that in perspective, if a QB does that over a whole season, they aren't just an All-Pro; they're probably the greatest of all time.
The Commanders were missing Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), which hurt the offense, but the defense lost bodies left and right. Marshon Lattimore went down with a knee injury. Trey Amos hurt his hip. By the second half, the secondary was basically a "who's who" of guys you'd barely recognize from the preseason roster.
🔗 Read more: OU Football Depth Chart 2025: Why Most Fans Are Getting the Roster Wrong
Coach Dan Quinn didn't sugarcoat it after the game: "We missed it by a mile."
The Turning Point(s)
Usually, a game has one turning point. This one had three in the span of about two minutes.
- The Horton Score: Tory Horton caught his second TD of the night to make it 14-0.
- The Special Teams Fumble: On the very next kickoff, Jaylin Lane fumbled the ball. Seattle recovered.
- The 11-Second Double: Exactly 11 seconds of game time after Horton's score, Darnold found Elijah Arroyo for a 26-yard touchdown.
Just like that, it was 21-0. The stadium felt like air was being sucked out of a balloon.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
Most people will look at the final score and say Washington is a bad team. That’s a bit of a lazy take.
Before the wheels fell off, the Commanders were 3-5 and trying to stay alive in a tough NFC East. The real issue wasn't a lack of talent; it was a lack of depth and some truly brutal luck. You can't lose your starting QB, your WR1, your WR2 (Luke McCaffrey also got hurt early), and three members of your secondary and expect to beat a 6-2 Seahawks team coming off a bye week.
💡 You might also like: NL Rookie of the Year 2025: Why Drake Baldwin Actually Deserved the Hardware
Seattle looked fresh. They were fast. Mike Macdonald has that defense playing at a level that reminds people of the "Legion of Boom" days, even if the names are different. They're now 3-0 on the road this year, and Macdonald is making a serious case for Coach of the Year.
Looking Ahead: What Now?
For Seattle, the path is clear. They’re tied at the top of the NFC West with the Rams and look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They host Arizona next, a team they’ve already beaten once this season.
For Washington, it's "pray time," as Bobby Wagner put it in the locker room.
The season essentially hinges on the MRI results for Jayden Daniels' elbow. If he’s out for the year, the Commanders are looking at a high draft pick and a lot of "what ifs." If it’s just a sprain, they might be able to tread water with Marcus Mariota, but it’s a steep climb.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors:
- Watch the Injury Report: If you're following the Commanders, the status of Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos is just as vital as Daniels. Their secondary is currently a liability that every offensive coordinator in the league is licking their chops to exploit.
- JSN is the Real Deal: If you play fantasy or follow player props, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is no longer a "sleeper." He is the focal point of that offense, especially with Cooper Kupp sidelined.
- Darnold’s Efficiency: Don't expect 16-for-16 every week, but the Seahawks' offensive scheme is designed to give Darnold easy reads. As long as the offensive line holds up, his completion percentage will stay north of 65%.
- Washington's Ground Game: Despite the blowout, Chris Rodriguez Jr. looked solid, rushing for 65 yards and a score. If Daniels is out, expect a very run-heavy approach in the coming weeks.
The 2025 matchup between the Commanders and Seahawks will be remembered as the night Sam Darnold became a wizard and Washington's season hit a concrete wall. Whether they can bounce back depends entirely on the health of a certain rookie's left arm.