He’s not Jayden Daniels, but veteran Marcus Mariota hasn’t been a flop when stepping in as the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders this season, and in fact, the backup passer is leading the NFL in two surprising categories.
As part of a preview for Week 16’s game the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium, Andrew Shaver and Maurice Smith of Pro Football Focus revealed where Mariota tops the league. The 32-year-old’s “10.6-yard average depth of target ranks first among all quarterbacks this season, while a league-high 53% of his pass attempts have been targeted past the sticks.”
Shaver and Smith expect Mariota “to remain aggressive,” even against an active and disruptive Eagles pass rush. The pressure is being led by former Miami Dolphins edge defender Jaelan Phillips, a mid-season trade acquisition who “has recorded 30 total pressures, leading the team and tying him for the sixth-most among all defensive players. Over the full 2025 season, Phillips is producing career highs in both pass-rush win rate (19%) and pressure rate (18%).”
Phillips putting heat on the pocket in front of a talented Eagles secondary will be a stern test of Mariota’s willingness to attack coverage vertically. Fortunately, the Commanders will deploy a big-play threat who is back to his best.
Marcus Mariota Isn’t Hurting the Commanders
Having Mariota stand in for last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Daniels hasn’t hurt the Commanders as much as expected. Instead, Mariota has expanded the passing game.
The 2024 Commanders’ average intended air yards per pass attempt, what Pro Football Reference calls average depth of target, was 7.6 yards. That number represented an aerial attack designed more to get the ball out of Daniels’ hands quickly and rely on yards after the catch.
Mariota’s extended time in the lineup while Daniels dealt with various injuries, before being shutdown for the season because of an elbow problem, has changed the dynamic. The Mariota-led Commanders have produced 34 pass completions of 20-plus yards, including six of 40 or more.
Those numbers aren’t just due to Mariota chancing his arm. They are also attributable to a dynamic receiver rediscovering his core skill.
Terry McLaurin Ready for Eagles Test
Having Terry McLaurin healthy and available has boosted the sudden-striker capability of Washington’s pass offense. His 51-yard touchdown grab against the New York Giants in Week 15 was a great example of the McLaurin effect.
McLaurin’s next task will be to finally put one over on a familiar rival, Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. The latter got the better of 74 coverage matchups last season, with Pro Football Focus analyst Bradley Locker noting how “McLaurin was open on just 23.5%, catching only three passes for 49 yards.”
Mitchell is also credited by PFF as ranking “first in completion rate allowed (42.7%),” so McLaurin can expect another tough test. Fortunately, McLaurin’s averaged “2.64 yards per route run and 11 first downs gained” since Week 13.
The numbers show how the Commanders are content to travel through the air. It’s a simple formula based on Mariota targeting McLaurin deep.
Maintaining that connection against the Eagles will be tough, particularly when left tackle Laremy Tunsil will miss out. Mariota shouldn’t count on having the time in the pocket to launch many deep strikes, though he may not have a choice but to try.
That’s because if, as expected, the Commanders are unable to control Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, they’ll have to throw long to play catchup.
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