In Sunday’s 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders secured the sixth spot in the NFC playoffs thanks to a touchdown throw from Marcus Mariota to Terry McLaurin, which was completed with three seconds remaining.
After coming in for Jayden Daniels, Mariota scored twice via the air and once on the ground. Since the only thing at stake was playoff seeding, the Commanders (12-5) benched their promising rookie quarterback at halftime. Unfortunately, this decision led to an offense that managed just 64 yards before the break.
As it turned out, Green Bay’s late field goal cost them the sixth spot, so Washington’s rally wasn’t necessary.
Next weekend, the Commanders will play host to one of the two wild-card teams: the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay. As the second-seeded team in the wild-card round, Philadelphia will host the Packers in the NFC East.
The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals as quarterback Trey Lance made his first regular-season start since Week 2 of 2022, a year after the 49ers traded up to draft him third overall. At the time, Lance was still a San Francisco 49er.
After three quarters of play, the Cowboys took a 19-16 lead on a touchdown run by Rico Dowdle.
In his return to Dallas, where he had been defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons—all of which finished with 12-5 playoff teams—Washington coach Dan Quinn already had his club in the playoffs.
The last one came tumbling down with a resounding home wild-card loss to Green Bay, and the coaches and players that Quinn let go of were never able to shake the gloom that plagued the 2024 season.
The Cowboys (7-10) are currently waiting for coach Mike McCarthy to be fired. McCarthy is on the verge of leaving the team after three successful seasons and two disappointing ones, during which the Cowboys failed to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Mariota completed 15 of 18 passes for 161 yards, including a 33-yard run that contributed to the winning score, which concluded a 91-yard drive, while Daniels went to the sideline after the half with a 6-for-12 completion and 38 yards.
Lance had significant play for the first time since preseason, going 20 for 34 for 244 yards without a score or interception. As the season came to a close, he tossed five interceptions.
After losing out on the backup position with the Niners last year, the Cowboys acquired Lance with a fourth-round selection in a trade. Following Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, which ended his season, Cooper Rush started the first eight games.
As it turned out, Green Bay’s late field goal cost them the sixth spot, so Washington’s rally wasn’t necessary.
Next weekend, the Commanders will play host to one of the two wild-card teams: the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay. As the second-seeded team in the wild-card round, Philadelphia will host the Packers in the NFC East.
The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals as quarterback Trey Lance made his first regular-season start since Week 2 of 2022, a year after the 49ers traded up to draft him third overall. At the time, Lance was still a San Francisco 49er.
After three quarters of play, the Cowboys took a 19-16 lead on a touchdown run by Rico Dowdle.
In his return to Dallas, where he had been defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons—all of which finished with 12-5 playoff teams—Washington coach Dan Quinn already had his club in the playoffs.
The last one came tumbling down with a resounding home wild-card loss to Green Bay, and the coaches and players that Quinn let go of were never able to shake the gloom that plagued the 2024 season.
The Cowboys (7-10) are currently waiting for coach Mike McCarthy to be fired. McCarthy is on the verge of leaving the team after three successful seasons and two disappointing ones, during which the Cowboys failed to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Mariota completed 15 of 18 passes for 161 yards, including a 33-yard run that contributed to the winning score, which concluded a 91-yard drive, while Daniels went to the sideline after the half with a 6-for-12 completion and 38 yards.
Lance had significant play for the first time since preseason, going 20 for 34 for 244 yards without a score or interception. As the season came to a close, he tossed five interceptions.
After losing out on the backup position with the Niners last year, the Cowboys acquired Lance with a fourth-round selection in a trade. Following Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, which ended his season, Cooper Rush started the first eight games.
As promised, Micah Parsons quickly made up for the four games he missed due to a high ankle sprain, securing 10 sacks for the fourth time in his four years with Dallas.
On the opening play of the game, Parsons intercepted Daniels for a loss of four yards. Two plays later, he connected with him again for a nine-yard gain. Only four players in franchise history have recorded ten or more sacks in their first four years. The NFL Hall of Fame has inducted the other three.
The album by Aubrey
Although none of Aubrey’s kicks were from 50 yards, he maintained his record of fourteen kicks from that distance in a season, which is currently an NFL record. Ka’imi Fairbairn of Houston began and concluded the day with thirteen points, while Chris Boswell of Pittsburgh also finished with thirteen points on Saturday, thanks to a 54-yard field goal.
Coming next next
After missing the playoffs in 2020 and 2015, the Commanders are back this season with a winning record.
