5 major observations from Marcus Mariota's performance against the Dolphins

"Superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels' knee sprain, hamstring strain, and dislocated elbow have stunted the player and the Washington Commanders. But they are fortunate to have such a capable understudy to step up. Things didn't go well for the Commanders in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, but Mariota played pretty well. It was nowhere near enough to offset the defensive failings, but the signal-caller was way down the laundry list of problems head coach Dan Quinn had to deal with."

"Playing abroad added an extra sense of festivity to a game between two underachievers. However, gaining positive momentum was Washington's only objective to end its concerning slump. The former Oregon standout was going to have a massive say in proceedings. As it turned out, Mariota couldn't come through as the Commanders suffered another demoralizing overtime loss on the road. With this in mind, here are five observations from Mariota's performance at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium."

"There was a lot to like about the way Marcus Mariota started this game. He brought experience and poise into the pressure cooker, which allowed the Washington Commanders to find an early rhythm. Things were moving fluently for the offense, which enabled the ground game to get going and the signal-caller to make some noise in the passing game. Mariota has been around the game a long time. He knows how to raise the tempo and read defensive alignments effectively pre-snap."

Marcus Mariota has taken on extended starting responsibilities after Jayden Daniels suffered a knee sprain, hamstring strain, and dislocated elbow. Mariota started in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions and performed respectably despite widespread defensive breakdowns that limited team success. He then started the international matchup in Madrid against the Miami Dolphins at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as Washington chased momentum to halt a slump. Mariota displayed early poise, used experience to set tempo, aided the run game, and made plays in the passing game. Despite those contributions, Mariota could not prevent another demoralizing overtime road loss.

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