Instant Reaction: Seahawks’ record win streak ends with loss to Commanders

The Seattle Seahawks’ franchise-best win streak has ended at 12 games with their first loss of the 2026 season, a 33-31 defeat Sunday on the road to the Washington Commanders.

Recap | Box score

The Seahawks committed three turnovers, and the Commanders capitalized by turning each of those Seattle miscues into points, including a backbreaking pick-6 by Kain Medrano in the fourth quarter.

KAIN MEDRANO PICKS OFF SAM DARNOLD FOR A PICK SIX!@Commanders extend their late lead

📺: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/R4di9f5PoL

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 27, 2026

Here’s the instant reaction to the game from the voices of Seattle Sports.

Instant Reaction: Hawks fall to Commanders

• Mike Salk – Brock and Salk (6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports)

The Seahawks did not deserve to win in Washington. It was that simple.

Not when they turned it over three times, accounting for 20 of the Commanders’ 33 points. Not when they gave up two running first downs on third-and-long in the final two minutes. Not when they failed to score after a first down inside the 5-yard line. Not when they committed eight penalties for 53 yards. Not when the threat of a running game all but disappeared with Jadarian’s Price inability to hold on to the football.

I have no doubt that the Seahawks are a better team than the Commanders. But when you make that many mistakes against any team, you put yourself in a terrible position. Mike Macdonald will surely use this as an opportunity to refocus his squad. But in what is projected to be a tight division race, this is a loss that puts Seattle squarely behind the sticks.

• Stacy Rost – Bump and Stacy (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports)

The Seahawks weren’t going to win forever. Which is a godawful mindset following a loss, especially one in which you were heavily favored. Any coach would roll his eyes at me throwing out a line like that. But maybe it’s because of the Mariners season, because it’s easier for me to excuse a loss from an elite team that got in its own way rather than stomach a losing season from a team that should’ve been playing in October. Why am I even talking about the Mariners at all? Because I’m used to asking myself, “Well, how bad was it? And why did it happen?” after any loss for any team I watch, and the concern level I have for the Seahawks right now doesn’t go too deep.

This wasn’t about a broader issue of coaching, or talent, or energy, or accountability. This was a loss to a team that got the better of you that day. Seattle’s defensive backs got burned by a receiver who’s burned a few All-Pros before, and a team that was second in the league in turnovers last season and still won a Super Bowl lost the turnover battle.

Here’s what matters to me right now:

How close is safety Julian Love (calf) to returning? He’s leading the team in interceptions (with three in his last three games, including the Super Bowl) and his absence was felt in the secondary.

Does Jadarian Price, who once struggled with fumbles are Notre Dame, still have a problem turning the ball over? Because you can handle a quarterback who’ll take some risky shots, but your offense certainly can’t fumble routinely, too.

Finally, is special teams as special as it was last season? Jason Myers’ preseason field goal misses haven’t ended up mattering in the regular season — he’s been sharp so far — but this unit was second in DVOA last season, and it was a massive weapon over the Rams (and everyone else).

• Mike Lefko – Wyman and Bob (2-7 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports)

It was bound to happen eventually, but that doesn’t make the Seahawks first loss since last November any less frustrating.

Three turnovers led to 20 points for the Commanders, and you aren’t going to win many games with a minus-3 turnover differential. The injuries on the defensive side loomed large, with the back end especially vulnerable in this one.

The Jadarian Price fumbling issues continue to be problematic and the run game in general failed to generate anything to supplement the offense. Three running backs combined for 39 yards on 17 carries. Price looks to have the most raw talent, but he only touched the ball twice the rest of the game after his early fumble.

This feels like a blip more than anything of significant concern, but it does open up some of the lingering questions we had about the depth of the roster, along with the unknown of going with a true rookie running back.

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