{"id":584478,"date":"2025-01-05T23:29:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T03:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/?p=584478"},"modified":"2025-06-22T12:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T16:49:07","slug":"commanders-week-18-versus-cowboys-mariota-lifts-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2025\/01\/05\/commanders-week-18-versus-cowboys-mariota-lifts-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Commanders Week 18 Versus Cowboys: Mariota Lifts Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In thw Commanders Week 18 versus Cowboys end of season tilt, Marcus Mariota stepped in for an injured Jayden Daniels and delivered a thrilling 91-yard game-winning drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with 3 seconds left. The 23\u201319 victory secured the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs<\/strong> for the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cYou would\u2019ve had to drag me off the field if this was win-or-go-home,\u201d Daniels said, who sat the second half due to leg soreness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Washington (12-5) finishes the regular season on a four-game winning streak<\/strong> and will travel to Tampa Bay<\/strong> next Sunday night for a Wild Card showdown \u2014 a rematch of their Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commanders Week 18 Versus Cowboys: Mariota Saves the Day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mariota, playing extended snaps for the first time this season, went 15-of-18 for 161 yards<\/strong>, threw two touchdowns<\/strong>, and added a 33-yard run<\/strong> on the game-winning drive. The veteran QB stepped in after Daniels went 6-of-12 for 38 yards<\/strong> in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt was fun to celebrate him today,\u201d said head coach Dan Quinn<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s such a cool teammate and stays ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Daniels, who is expected to start in the playoffs, wasn\u2019t seriously injured. Coach Quinn cited a need for more mobility and a strategic shift to use Mariota\u2019s legs to unlock the offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McLaurin Delivers Again<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Terry McLaurin<\/strong> hauled in the game-winner and ended the night with six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown<\/strong>, continuing to be Washington\u2019s most consistent receiving threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington’s offense struggled early, gaining just 64 total yards<\/strong> in the first half before Mariota entered and engineered three scoring drives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commanders Clinch Sixth Seed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Green Bay\u2019s loss to Chicago<\/strong>, Washington had already clinched the No. 6 seed before Mariota\u2019s dramatic final drive. Still, the win ensured momentum going into the postseason and avenged an earlier season loss to Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve been through a lot this year,\u201d McLaurin said. \u201cTo finish strong and head into the playoffs with confidence \u2014 that\u2019s big.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Cowboys Collapse in Finale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Cowboys (7-10), started Trey Lance<\/strong> at quarterback. He managed only one offensive touchdown and relied on Brandon Aubrey\u2019s<\/strong> four field goals to stay competitive. Lance, making his first regular-season start since 2022, went 20-of-34 for 244 yards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rico Dowdle<\/strong> gave Dallas a brief lead with a 2-yard TD run<\/strong> in the fourth quarter,. The defense couldn\u2019t hold off Mariota\u2019s late heroics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis game was kind of a microcosm of our season,\u201d Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said postgame.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Notable Performances in Commanders Week 18 Versus Cowboys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n