Commanders again show fight as they lock up 6 seed and set up rematch with Bucs

ARLINGTON, Texas — Head coach Dan Quinn pulled quarterback Jayden Daniels at halftime. Not for performance, even if the Washington Commanders’ offense picked an inopportune time for their worst half of football.

The rookie sensation, amid a campaign with so many new experiences, felt a new one inside AT&T Stadium: mild leg soreness. With Washington having clinched a playoff berth, Quinn chose caution by sitting the invaluable playmaker, even though the team trailed early in the third quarter and the NFC’s sixth seed was up for grabs.

Daniels didn’t balk, saying he had “respect” for the decision. But when asked whether he would have fought to play if the game had higher stakes, “One hundred percent,” Daniels said. “They’d have to drag me off the field.”

Warning to potential playoff opponents: The same applies to the Commanders’ entire roster.

Washington scored three touchdowns in the second half, including Terry McLaurin’s 5-yard touchdown catch with three seconds remaining to secure a 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Commanders’ last four victories have all come on the final play from scrimmage.

“Man, this is amazing,” McLaurin said moments after his game-winning touchdown, which doubled as a franchise-record 13th this season. “This is why you work so hard in the offseason. Going to the playoffs with a chance to win it all.”

The victory closed Washington’s regular-season record at 12-5, the franchise’s first campaign with at least 12 wins since 1991. Reminder: The Commanders finished a combined 12-21-1 over the previous two seasons and had reached the playoffs only once since 2015. This is much better.

“No one believed that we would win 12 games this year,” said defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, one of the team’s longest-tenured players. “But, we’re not finished. We’re excited. We’re going to enjoy it for one week and get ready to go on the road and face whoever we got to face.”

With the Los Angeles Rams losing to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers improving to 10-7 with a 27-19 triumph over the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs earned the 3 seed and fourth straight NFC South title. The Commanders fell 37-20 to the Bucs back in Week 1, Daniels’ NFL debut. Much has changed since then.

The win, the Commanders’ fifth in a row, clinched the NFC’s sixth seed. It turns out they would have been No. 6 regardless, as the Green Bay Packers fell to the Chicago Bears on a last-second field goal while backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was feeding McLaurin with a desired high throw for a perfect “back five” play.

“Better this way. We earned it,” linebacker Frankie Luvu said.

These heart-racing finishes provided momentum and playoff-worthy intensity. Not that the rookie quarterback would know.

“I don’t know what the playoffs feel like,’ Daniels said. “Guess we’ll find out next week.”

However, those last four games were also against backup quarterbacks — Trey Lance made his first start this season for Dallas — and three of those teams are heading for vacation. Washington’s last win against a team with a legitimate starter at quarterback? Arizona’a Kyler Murray in Week 4.

Regardless, this recent surge, coming off a three-game slide, highlighted Washington’s fight and weaknesses that must be addressed for a sustained playoff run.

Jayden, Jayden, Jayden

This was easily the least Jayden Daniels game — or half — of the season. Daniels’ numbers were minimal — 6-of-12 for 38 yards and 27 yards on the ground — with a season-low 56.9 quarterback rating.

The offense sputtered and trailed 6-3 at halftime, producing only a 47-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez in the first half. The Commanders had 64 net yards and four first downs with Daniels in. Washington’s best scoring chance was a 36-yard pass by wide receiver Dyami Brown off a reverse, only for a wide-open Olamide Zaccheaus to drop the throw in the end zone. Zaccheaus redeemed himself with a 29-yard catch one play before Mariota’s 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz.

OZZZZZZZZ

📺 #WASvsDAL FOX pic.twitter.com/dZET8eSF2a

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 5, 2025

Daniels said the leg soreness “played a part” in limiting his ability to escape the pocket. Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons sacked Daniels twice on the opening drive and finished with 2 1/2 of the team’s six overall. Other hiccups were getting “behind the sticks” and not executing as needed.

Daniels should have locked up Offensive Rookie of the Year weeks ago, so this statistical stumble should not matter to voters. This game is a reminder that when Daniels isn’t humming, the offense turns quiet. Considering the high-octane rookie campaign, expect a revved-up quarterback in the playoffs.

Run game

The rush attack disappointed in recent weeks. Against the Cowboys, it simply disappeared.

While Daniels and Mariota tallied 83 yards combined, the running backs had 22 yards on eight carries. Only generating one drive with more than six plays in the first half kept the offense off the field and out of rhythm. Regardless, leading running back Brian Robinson Jr. (five carries for 10 yards) has largely been bottled up post-Washington’s Week 14 bye.

Austin Ekeler was activated off injured reserve on Saturday after sitting out at least four games and played sparingly in his return, though he was on the field in the fourth quarter. He had five touches for 32 yards. The stats aren’t eye-popping, but Quinn saw value in the running back playing after a second concussion this season in Week 12, which landed Ekeler on IR. Ekeler said he experienced memory loss each time.

“It was important for him to come back this week instead of next week,” Quinn said. “There are still emotions. For him to be able to play … there are gains there.”

Looking ahead

Washington will need a diversified run plan against the Buccaneers. Led by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea, Tampa Bay entered Week 18 ranked fourth in rush yards allowed at 97.8 per game. New Orleans averaged 3.4 yards on 19 carries.

Sunday aside, Washington’s offense has continued putting up points since Week 13, but losing Ekeler hampered efficiency and changed offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s approach.

The Commanders used two-back sets on 75 of 754 plays (10 percent) from Weeks 1 to 12 to maximize their offensive playmakers. Since Week 13, nine of 292 plays (3.1 percent). The remaining running backs — Robinson, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr. — lack Ekeler’s receiving skills, route-running and slashing ability. Daniels scored two rushing touchdowns on 88 yards on the ground against Tampa Bay in Week 1, but Robinson and Ekeler had 50 yards on 14 carries.

What’s made Daniels even more special in wins against the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons is how the rookie took over games. He willed Washington in the extra period against Atlanta partly because little else was working. Ekeler’s return as a slasher and receiver should offer needed help.

Oh, the line

The linemen have struggled to protect Daniels. Dallas sacking the rookie six times upped Washington’s allowed sacks total to 20 over the last five games.

Center Tyler Biadasz, Washington’s most consistent offensive lineman and Daniels’ security blanket up the middle, did not play with an ankle injury suffered in last week win over Atlanta. The line’s play drops off when Biadasz is out and hampers Robinson’s ability to run up the middle.

Starting right tackle Andrew Wylie returned from a one-week absence. However, left tackle Brandon Coleman went down with a knee injury in the second half and was listed as “questionable” to return. Swing tackle Cornelius Lucas (groin) was inactive Sunday.

Run defense

The Commanders held Cowboys leading rusher Rico Dowdle to 3.3 yards on 22 carries and Dallas to 3.8 yards per carry on 39 attempts overall. It’s good on the surface, but the Cowboys’ 150 rushing yards are significant, considering the offense played without injured wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and used a third-string quarterback in Lance.

Opponents have produced at least 91 rushing yards in 15 of 17 games this season. Teams have found success running inside against Washington — the Commanders rank last with 2.6 yards before contact “inside,” per TruMedia — while some of the longer gains have hit outside.

Allen played his second game since a surprise return from pectoral surgery and had one of Washington’s two sacks. If he’s knocked off any remaining rust by next week, his snaps might increase. Steadier edge play from Dante Fowler Jr. and Luvu would also limit perimeter opportunities.

Secondary action

Washington played without cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Quan Martin. The latter was a late scratch with an illness and seems likely to be healthy for the wild-card round. Lattimore’s lingering hamstring injury is the defense’s biggest wild card overall.

The four-time Pro Bowler missed a second consecutive game and sixth overall since being acquired by the Commanders from the Saints at the trade deadline. The reoccurrence in Week 15 means Lattimore will have played less than eight quarters for Washington. His presence on the outside allows defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to have eight players attack the box on run plays.

Without Lattimore, Washington turns to replacements Michael Davis and Benjamin St-Juste. Both have fallen out of the rotation at times this season. St-Juste’s penchant for getting penalized continued. He was flagged twice on the Cowboys’ final scoring drive, including for pass interference in the end zone, which gave Dallas the ball at the 1-yard line.

Washington can do little to replace Lattimore beyond Whitt strategizing a fantastic plan or using three safeties when Martin returns. That would mean moving Noah Igbinoghene outside and away from the slot, where he’s been an effective defender. With Lattimore’s hamstring, this is a week when the training staff will earn its money.

(Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)