WERE WE SURPRISED by Commanders Defense Against Seattle?

The Washington Commanders didn't suddenly fix their defense against the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold still threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns. Seattle still scored 31 points. But after going the first two games of the season without a takeaway, Washington forced three — and all three directly led to touchdowns. So what changed? After the Commanders' 33-31 win, I talked with Washington defenders about the emphasis on attacking the football, disrupting Darnold, communicating and recognizing what Seattle was trying to do. Sonny Styles, K'Lavon Chaisson, Jeremy Reaves and Kain Medrano explain how those points of emphasis showed up on the field — including the communication and recognition that helped turn Medrano's interception into a pick-six. Plus, hear what head coach Dan Quinn had to say when I asked him about winning the "game within the game" and executing in the moments that decided it. This is Raisin' Hail — original Washington Commanders reporting, analysis and stories from Jordan Bondurant. Subscribe for more Commanders coverage throughout the season. #Commanders #RaiseHail #NFL _______________________________ Washington football. From the sideline. Raisin' Hail delivers independent coverage of the Washington Commanders, including game-day reporting, locker-room interviews and clear-eyed analysis from a Beltway outsider. Subscribe and raise some hail! ABOUT Raisin' Hail is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Washington Commanders or the National Football League.