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

Jan 5, 2025, 07:59 PM

In a pivotal NFL game, the Washington Commanders secured a 23-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, clinching the No. 6 seed for the playoffs. The game saw a significant change at halftime when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was replaced by backup Marcus Mariota due to a coaching decision aimed at preserving Daniels' health for the postseason. Mariota led the Commanders to three second-half touchdown drives, including a game-winning 91-yard drive in the final minutes. His performance included 161 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and 56 rushing yards with an additional rushing touchdown. Key plays included a 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz and a crucial 33-yard run by Mariota, setting up the final touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with three seconds remaining. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Trey Lance, managed to score only through field goals until the fourth quarter, when they briefly took the lead before Mariota's final drive.