When it comes to playing in an offense that complements a quarterback's skillset with its scheme, "Command Center" podcast analysts Fred Smoot, Logan Paulsen and Santana Moss believe that quarterback Marcus Mariota was the ideal substitute for Jayden Daniels.

"I need my backup quarterback to be a doppelgänger of my starter," Smoot said. "I don't see that with [Kirk Cousins] and [Michael Penix Jr.], but [Daniels] and Mariota, they mirror each other in every facet."

In Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Mariota had his first win as a starter since Week 11 of the 2022 season when he played for the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 15-for-21 passes, putting up 207 pass yards and 2 total touchdowns.

"This might be the best offense that Mariota has been in since he's been in the league as far as what fits what he does." Moss said. "When you see [him] break across that line of scrimmage jumping over guys, I'm like 'Is that Mariota from Oregon?'"

The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner out of Oregon was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2015. A decade in the league has given Mariota plenty of tools to succeed as evidenced in last week's win when the signal-caller finished with a 118.6 passer rating last week.

"I think [Kingsbury] deserves a lot of credit insulating him," Paulsen said. "You didn't need to put him in these tough situations because we ran the ball so well and special teams played well, but when the moment came, he just looked so composed."

Washington had 201 rushing yards in Week Three versus the Raiders which was the second time in three games it has topped the 200-yard mark on the ground. The Commanders are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for a total of eight games with 200 or more rushing yards.

"Just goes to show he's someone who's been there, done that," Smoot said. "Don't forget he's won games as a starting quarterback. This guy has been there."