Game Preview, Week 3: Seattle Seahawks at Washington
September 25, 2026
by Steve Thomas
Well folks, last week stunk, on something of an epic level, between losing big to the team’s biggest rival and suffering a slew of important injuries, including the starting quarterback. It doesn’t get any easier this week, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks coming to town. The only open issue and chance for Washington in this game, realistically, is the Seahawk’s confusion at quarterback. Honestly, though, Washington is a long-shot in this contest. You never know what may happen, however; that’s why they play the games. Our game preview is below.
Game time & location: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET, Northwest Stadium, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 8:00 a.m.; all other parking lots 9:00 a.m.
Television: FOX
Television announcers: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst)
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: Click here
Seahawks radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 200 (Wash. broad.), 831 (Wash. broad.)
Washington roster: Click here
Washington depth chart: Click here
Seahawks roster: Click here
Seahawks depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs Seahawks: 13 – 8 (last 10: 4 – 6)
Last meeting: L, November 2, 2025, 14 – 38
Seattle record: 2 – 0 (1st place) / away: 4 – 3 / NFC: 1 – 0
Washington record: 0 – 2 (4th place) / home: 0 – 0 / NFC: 0 – 2
Early odds: Seahawks, -7
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
How well Marcus Mariota can take over Washington’s offense
With Daniels out with his latest elbow injury, it falls to Mariota to lead Washington’s offense. He’s a quality pro, and the team shouldn’t be set back too much through his leadership. There going to need it this week against the defending Super Bowl champions
Washington’s secondary needs to improve, drastically and quickly
We’ve beaten this dead horse to death. I don’t expect a drastic change in one week, but Washington will need to figure something out, because one of the best receivers in the NFL looms large this week, in form of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Focus on a strong, steady run game
Washington needs to keep Seattle’s offense off the field this week. Badly. The only way to do that is to develop a strong, steady, successful running attack.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson vs Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba is a tough matchup for any corner, but this applies even moreso for Washington and Sainristil and Robertson. Smith-Njigba has 17 catches so far this year already and his obviously one of the top receivers in the NFL. He’s good enough to play both out of the slot and on the outside. Last year, Seattle had him on the outside approximately 75% of the time, with 25% being in the slot; however, 2024 was the opposite. Therefore, expect Seattle to play Smith-Njigba in a variety of ways in order to get the best matchups. And against Washington, this means that Sainristil and Robertson are going to have to turn things around, fast.
Brandon Coleman vs DeMarcus Lawrence
This is probably the most high-profile matchup in the game behind Sainristil / Robertson and Smith-Njigba. Lawrence has played against Washington for many years while he was with Dallas, and has 10 total sacks against Washington in his career. Washington’s offensive line problems are well documented at this point, but Coleman has played fairly well. Washington needs that to continue this week in order to keep Daniels upright.
Sam Cosmi vs Leonard Williams
Cosmi has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal Washington offensive line performance. Several film analysts have pointed out how successful he’s been at times. Of course, he’s carrying a $20.6M cap hit this year, so the team has a right to expect this kind of output from him. For his part, Williams was a Second-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2025, so this matchup is pretty high-profile as far as interior line play goes. Keep an eye out on how well Cosmi does against Williams. The obvious telltale sign will be the success of the Seahawks pass rush and Washington’s ground game.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful
| Washington | Seahawks |
| G S. Cosmi, concussion/throat; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | S T. |
| S N. Cross, illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | DT B. Pili, concussion; Wed: DNP |
| QB J. Daniels, left elbow; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | QB S. Darnold, glute; Wed: LP |
| DT J. Kinlaw, back/shoulder; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP | RB G. Holani, knee; Wed: LP |
| LB F. Luvu, groin; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | LB E. Jones, neck; Wed: LP |
| TE C. Okonkwo, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | WR C. Kupp, back; Wed: LP |
| RB K. Allen, hip; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | RB J. Price, chest; Wed: LP |
| OLB D. Armstrong, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | FB B. Russell, chest; Wed: LP |
| S P. Butler, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | S N. Emmanwori, ankle; Wed: FP |
| LB L. Chenal, chest; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| WR J. Lane, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| DE C. Omenihu, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| S T. Owens, hamstring; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | |
| S J. Reaves, knee/elbow; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | |
| T/G B. Coleman, finger; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| K. D. Stevens, hand; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
Steve’s Prediction
Seahawks win in a blowout, 30 – 13.