ClutchPoints
The Seattle Seahawks enter their Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders riding an impressive wave of momentum. At 5-2 and fresh off a bye week, the Seahawks have positioned themselves as legitimate contenders in what has been a wide-open NFC landscape. As they prepare to face a struggling 3-5 Commanders squad in Landover, one player stands above the rest as the key to Seattle’s success: wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The second-year wideout has transformed from promising prospect to bona fide superstar in 2025, and his dominance couldn’t come at a better time against a Washington secondary that has been exposed repeatedly this season. Smith-Njigba leads the entire NFL with 819 receiving yards through just seven games, despite not even playing in Week 8 during Seattle’s bye. His 117.0 yards per game average has been remarkably consistent, with his season low being 79 yards and six games with 96 or more receiving yards.
What makes Smith-Njigba the X-factor for this crucial NFC showdown extends beyond mere statistics. The matchup presents a perfect storm for the Seahawks’ top weapon to completely take over the game, potentially delivering a performance that could define Seattle’s season.
The Commanders’ secondary enters this contest as one of the most vulnerable units in the NFL, creating an ideal scenario for Smith-Njigba to exploit. Washington ranks 26th in pass defense, allowing 244 yards per game through the air, and their struggles defending explosive plays have been well-documented. The Commanders have surrendered the most yards per attempt in the entire league while ranking 30th in coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus.
This represents a rare 1-versus-32 matchup: the Seahawks lead the NFL in yards per pass attempt while the Commanders rank dead last on defense. Even more troubling for Washington, they’ve allowed five different receivers to eclipse the 100-yard mark this season, with CeeDee Lamb, Tre Tucker, and Drake London all finding success against this porous secondary.
The Commanders’ cornerback situation has deteriorated significantly throughout the season. Marshon Lattimore, acquired via trade last year with high expectations, has been “victimized repeatedly in almost every game,” though he did show signs of life with a strong interception against Kansas City. Mike Sainristil, the slot corner, has struggled with missed tackles and physical matchups despite his toughness, while the entire interior secondary is undersized and vulnerable.
Washington’s defensive backfield features three interior defensive backs who all weigh under 200 pounds, an almost unprecedented situation that has led to consistent breakdowns in coverage and tackling. This size disadvantage becomes magnified when facing a technically sound route-runner like Smith-Njigba, who excels at creating separation and making defenders miss in space.
The chemistry between quarterback Sam Darnold and Smith-Njigba has been one of the NFL’s most productive partnerships in 2025. Darnold has thrown for 1,754 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just four interceptions while completing 68.2% of his passes through seven games. His ability to push the ball...
