The Washington Commanders have a difficult matchup in Week 10. Not only are the Commanders traveling to the West Coast, but they face one of the NFC’s better teams, the Seattle Seahawks.
Washington expects to see a fired-up Seattle team, too. The Seahawks were blown out 37-3 by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9.
Can Commanders quarterback Sam Howell continue his outstanding play from the previous two weeks? Can Washington’s defensive backs match up with Seattle’s terrific trio of wide receivers?
This will be the Commanders’ first trip to Seattle since 2017. The last two meetings between these two teams occurred at FedEx Field.
Sunday’s game will also be the first time Washington has faced the Seahawks without Russell Wilson under center since 2011.
Here are six stats and facts for the Week 10 matchup.
Series history
Washington holds a 13-6 (regular season, 13-9 overall) edge over Seattle in the 19 previous meetings between the franchises. Most Washington fans remember the franchise’s last three playoff losses — all to the Seahawks — and don’t realize the Commanders have largely played well against Seattle.
The last time Washington came to Seattle was in 2017. It was Kirk Cousins’ final season under center for Washington, and he led the team to an improbable road win as a big underdog. Washington was without several starters on the offensive line that day, and this game featured former first-round pick Josh Doctson’s signature play in his brief NFL career.
Washington has played well in Seattle
Of those 19 career meetings between these franchises, 10 have been played in Seattle. Washington has surprisingly won seven of those 10 meetings and is 7-1 against the Seahawks in Seattle during the regular season.
A lot has changed since the last time Washington played here, but don’t count the Commanders out, as lesser Washington teams have won in Seattle.
Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe is on a big run
Second-year DE/LB Boye Mafe has a sack in six consecutive games. Washington left tackle Charles Leno Jr. will have his hands full on Sunday with the twitchy Mafe.
Commanders CB Benjamin St-Juste quietly having a strong year
Benjamin St-Juste: 12 forced incompletions this season
1st in the NFL 💪 pic.twitter.com/rtjFA8R49I
— PFF Commanders (@PFF_Washington) November 8, 2023
Benjamin St-Juste is quietly having a strong season for the Commanders. The 6-foot-3, second-year cornerback has forced 12 incompletions, per Pro Football Focus, which leads the NFL.
Commanders catching Seahawks QB Geno Smith at the right time?
Geno Smith had his worst PFF Passing grade of the season against the Ravens.
The Seahawks QB struggles are showing up in the numbers.
Week 9 v. Ravens – 56.0 🟡
Week 8 v. Browns – 57.4 🟡
Week 1 v. Rams – 59.5 🟡Last two weeks haven't been great… pic.twitter.com/Shes5Ndhkz
— Sami ON Tap (@SamiOnTap) November 6, 2023
Geno Smith has struggled the past two weeks, but he’s also played against two of the top-five defenses in the NFL in Cleveland and Baltimore. Washington could be Smith’s get-right game in Week 10.
Commanders QB Sam Howell continues to do impressive things
DID YOU KNOW? 💡
Sam Howell is responsible for five completions with a completion probability under 20% this season, most in the NFL.
A look at Howell's four most improbable completions from the @Commanders' Week 9 win over the Patriots! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/tayY19i8Za
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 7, 2023
Commanders QB Sam Howell has put together two consecutive impressive performances and is currently No. 2 in the NFL in passing yards. The Seahawks present another big challenge for the second-year quarterback.
