Primetime overtime victory clinches playoff berth for Washington

In one of the biggest moments of one of the biggest games of the entire season, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels proved he’s actually human.
After leading the offense up and down the field all night long against a motivated and desperate Atlanta Falcons team, the Heisman Trophy winner needed a moment to catch his breath. Deep into overtime, head coach Dan Quinn called a timeout to allow his electrifying 24-year-old time to regain his composure.
As Daniels kneeled on the field, his backup, Marcus Mariota, walked over to him and delivered a timely pep talk.
“Stand up, catch your air, get your wind and go out there and execute,” Mariota said. “Use your God-given abilities, and let’s go win this game.”
It should come as no surprise the rookie phenom did just that. Daniels connected with veteran tight end Zach Ertz in overtime for his third touchdown pass of the game, capping off an incredible performance. The LSU standout completed 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards with three touchdowns and ran for a season-high 127 yards, including 42 in overtime.
During the most-watched Sunday Night Football game since 2019, the most clutch version of this franchise during my 20 seasons covering the team delivered once again. The Commanders, led by Daniels, rose to the occasion with the game on the line, defeating the Falcons in overtime, 30-24. Washington has 11 wins for the first time since 1991 and has officially qualified for the playoffs.
Washington has scored 30 or more points seven times, including three times in the last four games, and is one of only three teams to score on more than half of its drives this season. Considering the Commanders were 4-13 one year ago and the franchise hadn’t posted a winning season since 2016, it’s been a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that hasn’t had much to be cheerful about over the years.
The Commanders’ win was also testament to Daniels’ poise and resilience. He shook off an interception and a 10-point halftime deficit to lead the winning drive in overtime. At 11-5, Washington now has a chance to secure the sixth seed in the NFC. A victory over the Dallas Cowboys next weekend, could set up a wild-card round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Los Angeles Rams.







