Marcus Mariota Leads Commanders to 23-19 Win Over Cowboys, Securing No. 6 Seed

Jan 5, 2025, 09:05 PM

The Washington Commanders secured a thrilling 23-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in their final regular-season game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, clinching the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who replaced rookie Jayden Daniels at halftime, led the Commanders on three second-half touchdown drives, including the game-winning score. Mariota completed 15 of 18 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown. The decisive drive was a 91-yard march in the final minutes, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with three seconds remaining. Daniels had a modest first half, completing 6 of 12 passes for 38 yards and rushing for 27 yards. The Commanders finished the regular season with a 12-5 record, riding a five-game winning streak into the playoffs. Terry McLaurin's touchdown catch set a new single-season franchise record with his 13th touchdown of the season. For the Cowboys, quarterback Trey Lance made his first start in over two years, finishing with 20 of 34 passes for 244 yards, but the team struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals. The Cowboys finished the season with a 7-10 record, prompting speculation about the future of head coach Mike McCarthy.