The Cowboys retook the lead with a 22-yard field goal after the defense held them out of the end zone at their own 4-yard line, only for the Commanders to take it back again with another 70-yard touchdown drive. This time, Mariota took the ball in himself, shaking off a tackle behind the line of scrimmage before diving across the goal line.
Four minutes later, Dallas was back on top again with a touchdown of its own. A pass interference call on Benjamin St-Juste in the end zone moved the ball the Commanders’ 1-yard line, and Rico Dowdle powered for a score that put them ahead, 19-16.
Washington’s first attempt at retaking the lead ended in disaster. Mariota was sacked twice, leading to a total loss of 16 yards. It’s second was much more successful; Mariota completed five passes during the drive, four of which went to McLaurin. Mariota also slipped past the Cowboys’ defense on fourth-and-1 for a 33-yard gain that moved the Commanders to the Cowboys’ 16-yard line.
With seconds left, Mariota lofted a pass to McLaurin in the corner of the end zone, and for the 13th time this season, the Pro Bowl receiver hauled it in to give the Commanders their first road win over the Cowboys since 2020.
The Commanders now have control of their No. 6 seed and will either play the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of playoffs, depending on who wins between the Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
That’s a problem for later in the week, though. The Commanders give themselves a 24-hour rule to react to Sunday’s results. This week’s celebration feels like it’s been decades in the making.
