The Washington Commanders barely survived a furious comeback in New Orleans, throwing away a would-be game-winning two-point conversion with no time left on the clock. The Commanders claimed a 20-19 win that keeps Washington in the playoff hunt… but with some deep concerns about their ability to close out games.
For most of the afternoon, this looked like it was headed toward an easy Washington win, thanks in large part to Jayden Daniels. You’d think we’d be used to his game at this point. It’s been fourteen weeks now and we’ve seen him torment the opposition defense with his arms, his legs and his head. And then he’ll do something like this:
…and we all need to recalibrate what to expect from an NFL rookie quarterback.
While the atmosphere in the Superdome was lukewarm at best, a post-farewell road game is a challenge in every sense. Through the first 58 or so minutes, Washington put together a complete game, with Daniels throwing for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels and Brian Robinson each gained 65 yards on the ground, and Terry McLaurin had 73 yards receiving, including that gem above. The defense largely shut down both Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, the Saints QBs saw action while Derek Carr was sidelined with an injury.
Until the last ride.
This ended up being the kind of survival and advancement game that should still give the commanders some hope for the team’s near-term future. Washington was one of the best stories to come out of the season, a rookie quarterback and a new head coach reshaping the image and atmosphere of an entire franchise en route to a 7-2 record to start the year.
Reality set in with a three-game losing streak at the hands of the Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys, and the Commanders slipped to the edge of the playoff bubble. But Washington regained its position with a draw against the Titans heading into the farewell game.
That said, there are reasons for concern. For starters, the Commanders ended their game still chasing the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the most complete teams in the NFL, and Philadelphia also has a simple schedule for the final three games of the season.
Of greater significance, however, is the fact that the Commanders could not put the Saints away with a three-possession lead in the third quarter. A combination of defensive indifference, poorly timed penalties from the Commander and a surprisingly bloodless Washington offense allowed New Orleans to within seven points with just under seven minutes remaining.
Some questionable play calls from Washington late in the game, plus two several massive Daniels passes to McLaurin that just missed, and an errant field goal attempt with two minutes left, kept New Orleans on the hunt.
Rattler then marched the Saints all the way to the end zone, and a gutsy call to go for two, and the win ultimately fell just short.
Moving forward, Washington faces Philadelphia in a matchup that will determine whether the Commanders have a chance to claw back into the NFC East. The Commanders have the ability to create some of the most exciting plays in the NFL, but as Sunday showed, they need to make sure they play a full 60-minute game.
