The Washington Commanders playoff hopes took another hit Sunday as late-game mistakes doomed them to a third consecutive loss, a chaotic 34-26 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys. What began as an unremarkable NFC East clash turned into a whirlwind of scoring and miscues, as the two teams combined for 31 points in the final four minutes—the most in an NFL game in over a decade.
The Commanders (7-5) entered the game as heavy 10.5-point favorites but faltered in key moments, leaving head coach Dan Quinn and his squad searching for answers. “There were a lot of little things,” Quinn admitted after the game, “but they added up to a big loss.”
The mayhem began with Washington trailing 24-16. A fumble by tight end John Bates set up the Cowboys (4-7) for a field goal, extending their lead to 11 points. The Commanders responded with a touchdown and two-point conversion to cut the deficit to three, but any momentum was short-lived. On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas return man KaVonte Turpin dashed 99 yards to the end zone, pushing the Cowboys’ lead back to 10.
Commanders kicker Austin Seibert, returning after missing two games with a hip injury, hit a 51-yard field goal to make it 27-20. Then rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on a stunning 86-yard touchdown pass, bringing the Commanders within one point at 27-26 with just 21 seconds remaining.
Rather than attempting a game-winning two-point conversion, Quinn opted to kick the extra point, but Seibert missed wide left. “There was no thought to going for two,” Quinn explained. “We trusted our process.”
Disaster struck again as Washington’s onside kick was returned 43 yards for a touchdown by Juanyeh Thomas, sealing the Cowboys’ victory.
The 31 combined points in the final four minutes were the second most in a game since 2000, trailing only the 36 scored by Minnesota and Baltimore on Dec. 8, 2013. Sunday’s matchup also marked the first game in the Super Bowl era to feature two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns, and a blocked punt.
For Dallas, the victory snapped a five-game losing streak, thanks to a balanced effort. Quarterback Cooper Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker. The Cowboys’ defense forced two turnovers, while the special teams delivered game-changing plays.
For Washington, the loss is a gut punch. The Commanders, once a promising 7-2, now find themselves reeling as their playoff chances dwindle. Emotional players spoke candidly after the game, acknowledging the frustration.
“We have to be better in every phase,” said Daniels, who finished 18-of-27 for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. “We can’t keep letting these slip away.”
The Cowboys will host the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day, while the Commanders face the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in what may be a must-win game before their late bye week.
As the Commanders head into a critical stretch, they’ll need more than soul-searching to salvage their season. Sunday’s collapse was a vivid reminder that every detail counts in the NFL—especially in December’s playoff chase.
