But when it comes to the short-term significance, the Commanders additionally tightened their maintain on the No. 7 seed within the playoffs. It was a sport they wanted to win to carry off groups just like the Los Angeles Rams nonetheless within the hunt. It wasn’t an ideal day from both aspect of the ball, however it was sufficient to offer some momentum for the ultimate three matchups, two of which might be at house.
As good of a second because the failed two-point conversion was for the Commanders, there’s an argument it did not want to return right down to that.
Both variations of the Commanders have been current towards the Saints. In the primary half, Jayden Daniels led an offense that regarded extra like what they placed on show towards the Tennessee Titans two weeks in the past. Daniels was almost excellent via two quarters, finishing 17-of-19 passes and fueling a 165-yard effort. McLaurin had one other two-touchdown efficiency, and the protection gave Haener matches with three sacks. The Saints’ floor sport, which was ranked tenth heading into Sunday, was restricted to simply 18 yards.
Then the second half rolled round, and the Commanders began working into issues. Although gamers like Daniels, who picked up a third-and-14 with a 24-yard run, supplied performs that led to 2 subject objectives, they have been held to a punt and a missed subject objective on their last two drives after they may have closed out the sport. That gave Rattler and the Saints time to climb again from a 14-0 gap and arrange the ultimate play on the finish of regulation.