Consider this reversal of fortune.
The defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks are taking their unbeaten record on the road and getting back their starting quarterback. Their host opponent, the Washington Commanders, lost their starting quarterback and will start backup Marcus Mariota while Jayden Daniels rehabs his injured elbow.
When the man that has led teams to 14 win seasons the past two years, Sam Darnold, was knocked out of action in the Seahawks home opener against the team they beat in last February’s Super Bowl, the New England Patriots, he was replaced by Drew Lock. The veteran backup led a fourth quarter comeback to edge New England in the opener, 13-10, and then guided a second straight win on the road last Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals, 31-7.
Darnold is now recovered from his glute soft tissue injury and will start today at Northwest Stadium against a Commanders squad still looking for their first win this season and needing to rely on their backup quarterback. Darnold guided the Minnesota Vikings and Seahawks to consecutive 14 regular season wins the past two years and now returns, which has caused bettors to flock to the books to get down on his chances with long lines snaked out the door.
Since he went down in the opener just five offensive plays into the season, the Seahawks have been motivated to compensate for his loss. Now, they get him back at the same time the Commanders are super focused to compensate for having to play their backup QB.
Sometimes things just fall together perfectly.
What we get in Washington today is a squad fully prepared to surprise themselves with an effort that beats one of the best defenses in the NFL. Meanwhile, we get a shocked Seattle squad that thought this was going to be a cakewalk and turned out to be a pie in their face.
The Seahawks are headed into the worst of all motivational traps … buoyed by their good fortune of getting their signal caller back and further confident based on their opponent having to play their backup.
We not only get the perfect spot to capitalize on a Commanders win, but the public strong backing of last year’s champs has also driven the point spread up two points from a line released on Monday giving the home team 6½ points to 8½ points this morning.
Good fortune coming from all directions.
Qoxhi Picks: Washington Commanders (+8½) over Seattle Seahawks