Marcus Mariota and a reconfigured Commanders offense run past the Raiders 41-24

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — With so many changes to the starting offense — either because of injuries, such as to Jayden Daniels and Austin Ekeler, or coaching decisions seeking improvement after a bad loss — the Washington Commanders needed a bit of help from everyone.

They sure got it.

With quarterback Marcus Mariota filling in for Daniels and a committee of running backs finding holes behind a new-look offensive line, the Commanders produced 174 yards on the ground in the first half alone, and Washington beat the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 on Sunday.

“We’ve got some boys in the backfield, man. You know what I’m saying?” said Chris Rodriguez, who started at running back and carried the ball on four of Washington's initial five plays. “And we can all do everything.”

In addition to Mariota’s 43-yard scoring pass to Luke McCaffrey with a little more than two minutes left, Washington (2-1) got touchdowns via a 60-yard run by Jeremy McNichols, a 1-yard plunge by rookie seventh-round draft pick Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt that was set up by Mariota’s 56-yard throw to Terry McLaurin and a 90-yard punt return by rookie fourth-round selection Jaylin Lane.

McNichols finished with 78 yards on four carries, Rodriguez — who was inactive for Weeks 1 and 2 — gained 39 on 11 runs, and Croskey-Merritt ran for 26 on eight touches. That doesn't even include Mariota, who ran six times for 40 yards — including a 2-yard TD on the opening possession and a scramble just before halftime that ended in a sideline collision that left coach Dan Quinn bloodied.

In his first NFL start since 2022, Mariota went 15 for 21 for 206 yards with one TD passing.

"I love this system," said Mariota, who did lose a fumble on a run.

McNichols never had a run or reception that gained more than 28 yards in his eight NFL seasons before Sunday; his play was the longest rushing TD for Washington since Adrian Peterson scored from 90 yards out against Philadelphia in 2018.

“That was effort by him, wholeheartedly,” Mariota said. “He broke probably six tackles.”

Lane's return, meanwhile, tied for the longest punt score in franchise history and was the first for Washington since Jamison Crowder brought one back in 2016.

“It does speak to the team and, when called upon, being able to deliver,” Quinn said. “You don’t know who’s going to be the one to take that step and make the one (big play)."

Daniels sat out with an injured left knee, the first game he’s missed since entering the NFL; he got hurt in Washington’s 27-18 defeat at Green Bay on Sept. 11.

Ekeler was lost for the season in that game, and receiver Noah Brown picked up groin and knee issues that held him out Sunday. Plus, guards Nick Allegretti and Brandon Coleman were benched against the Raiders (1-2), replaced by Andrew Wylie and Chris Paul, with Trent Scott often checking in as a sixth offensive lineman.

Washington’s 174 yards on the ground in the first half were the most for the team since gaining that same number against Tampa Bay in 2010. The Commanders finished with 201.

“We just didn’t tackle very well,” Raiders defender Maxx Crosby said. “We just didn’t do our job.”

Washington's defense still hasn't produced a turnover, but it did sack Geno Smith five times, including two by Bobby Wagner.

Smith was 19 for 29 for 289 yards and three scoring passes — all three to Tre Tucker, who caught eight throws for 145 yards. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, started the day with 5 yards through five carries, but he finished with 63 yards on 17 runs.

“I have to do a better job,” said Raiders coach Pete Carroll, whose team had a short turnaround after losing last Monday, while Washington had been off for nine days. “It was all three phases, so it’s me. I have to do a better job managing our return.”

Raiders TE Michael Mayer left with a concussion after leading with his helmet while making a tackle on a punt in the first quarter. ... Washington's McLaurin left in the second half with an injured quadriceps muscle. ... Four Commanders defensive backs missed portions of the game: S Will Harris (ankle), S Percy Butler (hip), CB Marshon Lattimore (evaluated for a concussion) and CB Trey Amos (calf).

Washington plays at Atlanta next Sunday, when Las Vegas hosts Chicago.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Washington Commanders Dan Quinn speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts after being sacked during the second half of NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) celebrates with quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scores a touchdown as Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) defends during the first half of NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) breaks free from Las Vegas Raiders defense and runs in a touchdown during the first half of NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting Thursday to discuss Iran's deadly protests at the request of the United States, even as President Donald Trump left unclear what actions he would take against the Islamic state.

Tehran appeared to make conciliatory statements in an effort to defuse the situation after Trump threatened to take action to stop further killing of protesters, including the execution of anyone detained in Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

Iran’s crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,615, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. The death toll exceeds any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for hours without explanation early Thursday and some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait also ordered its personnel to “temporary halt” travel to the multiple military bases in the small Gulf Arab country.

Iran previously closed its airspace during the 12-day war against Israel in June.

Here is the latest:

“We are against military intervention in Iran,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul on Thursday. “Iran must address its own internal problems… They must address their problems with the region and in global terms through diplomacy so that certain structural problems that cause economic problems can be addressed.”

Ankara and Tehran enjoy warm relations despite often holding divergent interests in the region.

Fidan said the unrest in Iran was rooted in economic conditions caused by sanctions, rather than ideological opposition to the government.

Iranians have been largely absent from an annual pilgrimage to Baghdad, Iraq, to commemorate the death of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, one of the twelve Shiite imams.

Many Iranian pilgrims typically make the journey every year for the annual religious rituals.

Streets across Baghdad were crowded with pilgrims Thursday. Most had arrived on foot from central and southern provinces of Iraq, heading toward the shrine of Imam al-Kadhim in the Kadhimiya district in northern Baghdad,

Adel Zaidan, who owns a hotel near the shrine, said the number of Iranian visitors this year compared to previous years was very small. Other residents agreed.

“This visit is different from previous ones. It lacks the large numbers of Iranian pilgrims, especially in terms of providing food and accommodation,” said Haider Al-Obaidi.

Europe’s largest airline group said Thursday it would halt night flights to and from Tel Aviv and Jordan's capital Amman for five days, citing security concerns as fears grow that unrest in Iran could spiral into wider regional violence.

Lufthansa — which operates Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings — said flights would run only during daytime hours from Thursday through Monday “due to the current situation in the Middle East.” It said the change would ensure its staff — which includes unionized cabin crews and pilots -- would not be required to stay overnight in the region.

The airline group also said its planes would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace, key corridors for air travel between the Middle East and Asia.

Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for several hours early Thursday without explanation.

A spokesperson for Israel’s Airport Authority, which oversees Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, said the airport was operating as usual.

Iranian state media has denied claims that a young man arrested during Iran’s recent protests was condemned to death. The statement from Iran’s judicial authorities on Thursday contradicted what it said were “opposition media abroad” which claimed the young man had been quickly sentenced to death during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in the country.

State television didn’t immediately give any details beyond his name, Erfan Soltani. Iranian judicial authorities said Soltani was being held in a detention facility outside of the capital. Alongside other protesters, he has been accused of “propaganda activities against the regime,” state media said.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday that his government was “appalled by the escalation of violence and repression” in Iran.

“We condemn the brutal crackdown being carried out by Iran’s security forces, including the killing of protesters,” Peters posted on X.

“Iranians have the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and access to information – and that right is currently being brutally repressed,” he said.

Peters said his government had expressed serious concerns to the Iranian Embassy in Wellington.

A demonstrator lights a cigarette with a burning poster depicting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in support of Iran's anti-government protests, in Holon, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Protesters participate in a demonstration in support of the nationwide mass protests in Iran against the government, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Protesters participate in a demonstration in support of the nationwide mass protests in Iran against the government, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)