The Washington Commanders defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 on Sunday afternoon at Northwest Stadium, improving to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 at home. This marks the first time since 2008-09 that Washington has started 2-0 at home in consecutive seasons. Dating back to last year, Washington has now scored 20 or more points in seven straight home games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
The Commanders also continued their success against AFC opponents, beginning the season 1-0 against the AFC for the fourth consecutive year, a feat the team last achieved from 1985-88. The victory moved Washington’s all-time series record against the Raiders to 8-7 and extended its winning streak over Las Vegas to five games dating back to 2009. Sunday’s matchup marked the first time the Raiders visited Washington since 2017, when the Commanders earned a 27-10 victory.
The 41 points scored were the most in a game for Washington since Week 13 of 2024, and it was the team’s first regular season win scoring 40 or more points since Week 7 of last year. Washington also rushed for over 200 yards in consecutive home games for the first time since 2024, a mark the team has reached only three times since 1996.
Standout Performances on Offense and Special Teams
Quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and a two-yard rushing score in the first quarter. The win marked Mariota’s first career victory over the Raiders, making him the 18th quarterback in NFL history to defeat 25 different teams. Sunday also marked his 75th career start, and his 38 rushing yards in the first quarter were the second-highest first-quarter total of his career.
Rookie Jaylin Lane delivered one of the game’s biggest highlights with a 90-yard punt return touchdown, his first in the NFL and Washington’s first since 2016. Lane totaled 127 punt return yards, the third-most by a rookie in franchise history, and became the first Washington rookie with a punt return touchdown since Desmond Howard in 1992. Lane and fellow rookie Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt, who also scored, became the first pair of Washington rookies to each score a touchdown in the same game since 2020. Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey caught three passes for 56 yards and scored his first career touchdown, while veteran Terry McLaurin hauled in three receptions for 74 yards, surpassing Bobby Mitchell for fifth on the franchise’s all-time receiving yards list with 6,493.
Running back Jeremy McNichols added 78 rushing yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, the longest rushing score by a Washington running back since Adrian Peterson in 2018. Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed on special teams with a career-long 69-yard kickoff return and 93 total kickoff return yards.
Defensive Power and Milestones Highlight Commanders’ Win
The Commanders’ defense delivered five sacks, their third-most ever against the Raiders and most since 2013. Linebacker Bobby Wagner led the team with 11 tackles, adding two sacks, three quarterback hits, and a tackle for loss. Wagner became the first Washington player since Frankie Luvu in 2024 to record two sacks in a game and joined Zach Brown as only the second player in franchise history to start a season with three straight games of 10-plus tackles.
Von Miller registered his 131st career sack, extending his league lead among active players and notching his 10th sack against the Raiders. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong added one sack, giving him sacks in all three games this season, the first streak of its kind in his career. Daron Payne tied Jonathan Allen for second on Washington’s all-time tackles-for-loss list with 60.
Kicker Matt Gay connected on two of three field goal attempts, including a 56-yarder, while punter Tress Way placed two of his three punts inside the 20-yard line. Way’s appearance tied him with Mark Moseley for ninth on the franchise’s all-time games played list at 182.
Washington’s all-around performance demonstrated depth, balance, and resilience. The Commanders improved to 2-1 for the third straight season, matching a level of early-season consistency not seen since 1990-92. With dynamic rookies making an impact, veteran leadership, and a roaring home crowd, Washington sent a clear message to the league that its winning formula is clicking on all cylinders.
News and Notes: Commanders Extend Home Dominance and Historic Streaks in Week 3 Win