Todd Archer
John Keim
John Keim
ESPN Employees Author
John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Publish. He began masking the workforce in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored 4 books. You too can hearken to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and observe him on Twitter @john_keim
LANDOVER, Md., — For 57 minutes, the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys performed a secular recreation, with the Cowboys holding an 11-point lead and the groups combining for 29 factors.
After which it received wild, resulting in among the wildest jiffy this season.
Within the final 2 minutes, 49 seconds, there was a 99-yard kick return for a landing, an 86-yard landing move, a missed extra-point try that might have tied the rating, an onside kick returned for one more rating and a Hail Mary move that was intercepted on the 5-yard line to clinch Dallas’ 34-26 victory — ending the Cowboys’ five-game shedding streak and increasing Washington’s to a few.
“It is like Yahtzee,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy stated. “I believe the whole lot was in there.”
With the win, the Cowboys (4-7) prevented Washington (7-5) from regaining the momentum it had earlier this season.
“It was loopy,” Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner stated. “We noticed him bust up that run after which we miss [an extra point].”
The swing of feelings included the groups combining to attain 31 factors within the ultimate 4 minutes, essentially the most within the ultimate 4 minutes of an NFL recreation since Baltimore and Minnesota scored 36 in 2013.
It started after Washington minimize the result in 20-17 on a Jayden Daniels 4-yard landing move to tight finish Zach Ertz, adopted by a profitable 2-point conversion.
From there: KaVontae Turpin scored on a kick return, Washington linked on a subject aim, Terry McLaurin scored on an 86-yard landing reception, which was adopted by a 43-yard onside kick return for a rating by Juanyeh Thomas.
The end result was among the wildest jiffy within the Washington-Dallas rivalry.
Dallas’ kickoff return TD
0:39
KaVontae Turpin stuns Commanders with 99-yard KO-return TD
KaVontae Turpin returns a kickoff 99 yards to increase the Cowboys’ lead over the Commanders.
With 3:02 to play, the Cowboys lead was minimize to 20-17 after Daniels’ landing move. Momentum was on the Commanders’ facet, and there was a way of here-we-go-again dread amongst followers of the Cowboys.
However then Turpin modified the whole lot. Austin Seibert hit a knuckling kickoff that went between Turpin’s legs to the 1-yard line. From there, with the assistance of a video-game like spin transfer, he was touched solely by the arm of linebacker Jordan Magee on his option to a 99-yard landing.
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy jokingly on the muffed kickoff: Effectively, he did that for timing. That was a part of the plan.
Seibert on his technique: Hit a grimy ball and make him subject it.
Turpin: My first thought was to catch it on the run, however I could not, so I attempted to catch it on the bounce and it went between my legs. As soon as I received the ball, I used to be enthusiastic about happening and simply letting our offense bleed the clock. However I am like, ‘Let me hit this spin transfer. One thing no person’s ever seen earlier than, and hopefully I can get via the chute.’ As soon as I get via, no person’s touching me. I am going to home name each time.
Jeremy Reaves was the primary participant downfield to cowl the kick and was in place to make the sort out. Turpin spun away from him and Magee.
Reaves: I made that play 100 instances, and I did not make it right this moment. It value us the sport. It is unacceptable. It is solely on me. I did not make the play when it was there, and as an older man, a frontrunner on this workforce, that is my play.
Cooper Rush: It was a troublesome kick. It was truly a extremely good job by him simply to subject the ball. Yeah, you are pondering all proper, we’ll get ball on 30. Rapidly there’s this spin transfer and you are like, ‘Oh, my god.’ All people simply ran by him. When he places on the gasoline, I’m wondering what his GPS quantity was on that?
In accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats, Turpin hit 21.35 mph, six days after he hit 22.36 mph on a 64-yard landing catch in opposition to the Houston Texans.
Turpin: I do not suppose I ran sooner than final week although.
Washington’s McLaurin TD
COMMANDERS 86-YARD TOUCHDOWN WOW
: #DALvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/apaNEKNCkh
— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
With 1:40 to play, Seibert kicked a 51-yard subject aim to chop Dallas’ result in 27-20. Washington’s protection then pressured a punt, giving the Commanders a primary down at their 14-yard line with 33 seconds remaining. Earlier this season, Washington trailed Chicago 15-12 with 19 seconds left needing 76 yards. The Commanders received on a 52-yard Hail Mary landing on the ultimate play.
This time, they wanted one play to go 86 yards. Daniels linked with McLaurin on the Washington 41-yard line. McLaurin minimize upfield between two defenders and minimize exterior after a block by receiver Noah Brown. McLaurin ran untouched into the tip zone.
McLaurin: Once I received the ball, I simply tried to attain. We follow these conditions on a regular basis. We do not wish to be in these conditions, to attempt to get it unexpectedly. We’ve got to have a greater first quarter, second quarter or half. … So, yeah, I assumed once I scored, we’d have an opportunity.
Daniels: Something can occur, at any time when.
McCarthy: They hit it, so we have simply received to sort out him there. As soon as once more, that is situational soccer, and clearly we get him down there, the decision might change. …They hit the three-level play on us for the large play to get it again.
Washington coach Dan Quinn: I like that we’re by no means out of the struggle, however I wish to be sure that it would not go to that area. That half is the one we’ll work arduous on to get proper.
Quinn stated he didn’t think about going for 2 after the landing.
Quinn: I assumed, ‘Let’s get again into it, however we do not have to resolve it on this play.’ Then, ‘Hey get one cease, we’ll get it after which on the coin toss, let’s undergo the entire course of once more and reset it.’ In that manner, that was the fitting name, as you are not factoring within the different a part of issues.
Washington’s missed additional level try
NO GOOD.
— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
In his first 9 video games, Seibert had made 25 of 28 subject aim makes an attempt and all 22 PATs. However he sat out two video games due to a hip harm. He was not sharp in his return. Seibert made two of three subject aim makes an attempt, badly lacking from 51 yards within the first quarter. He additionally missed his first additional level try vast to the left. It was a harbinger of issues to come back. Needing a profitable PAT to tie Sunday’s recreation, Seibert as soon as once more pushed it vast left.
Seibert: I simply wasn’t hanging it properly. [The snap] did not make a distinction in any respect. It was on me.
Commanders punter Tress Means: This dude is simply making freaking kicks all yr lengthy, so we nonetheless have plenty of ball left and making a little bit playoff run.
McLaurin: It would not come down to at least one kick.
Quinn: It is by no means about one play.
Tyler Ott’s snap was low, however Means fielded it off the bottom and the ball was in place in time for Seibert’s kick.
Means: Tyler and I talked after, and our job is to make it as seamless as doable for Austin, and we simply did not really feel like we fairly had it there.
Seibert: It did not make a distinction in any respect. It was on me.
Dallas’ onside kick TD
0:23
Juanyeh Thomas returns Commanders’ onside kick 43 yards for a Cowboys TD
The Commanders’ onside kick goes horribly fallacious as Juanyeh Thomas picks it up and goes 43 yards the opposite manner for a Cowboys landing.
With Seibert lacking the PAT, the Cowboys knew they wanted to efficiently subject one other onside kick try with 21 seconds left to play to salt away a recreation they thought they’d received twice already.
Seibert tried to pop his kick simply far sufficient to go 10 yards. Sadly for him, it popped proper into the arms of Thomas, who ran 43 yards for a landing and a 34-26 lead with 14 seconds left.
Seibert: I ought to have hit it a little bit bit extra left. I hit it proper to the man. That is what you get when that occurs. That falls on me, too.
Thomas, nevertheless, by no means ought to have tried to attain. He’s coached to go down instantly.
Thomas: Man, all I seen was finish zone. I ain’t going to lie. ‘Man, I’ll rating.’ … Hear, it is so humorous. I’d’ve [gone down] in the event that they crowded a little bit bit extra. However I simply received it and stated, ‘Six factors.’
McCarthy: That is a ‘no mas,’ state of affairs, so I believe these forms of issues we simply received to be taught from.
Rush: Fairly thrilling. Completely happy for Juanyeh scoring a landing, however on the identical time, I am like, ‘Get down.’ Good job recovering it, I suppose.
Thomas: Subsequent time I’ll go down.
Wagner stated till that second, he thought they may nonetheless win. Now, he stated, it is about transferring ahead — and having veteran leaders like himself and Ertz, take management and rescue the season from spiraling much more.
Wagner: Guys like myself, Zach, have been in crazier conditions than this one, so sharing these offers you the idea that, ‘Why not be one other group that turns the whole lot round?’
Ertz: I do not suppose we’re far off. … I’ve plenty of perception within the guys. I’ve plenty of perception within the quarterback.
Not one other Hail Mary!
The ultimate play of Cowboys vs. Commanders
pic.twitter.com/RIN0bj1dbi
— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
With Thomas not happening, Washington nonetheless had an opportunity to tie the rating, even with 14 seconds left.
On Oct. 27, Daniels shocked the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary after he scrambled round for almost 13 seconds. The move was deflected into the arms of Brown, a former Cowboy who was behind the Chicago defenders, for an 18-15 win.
It was Daniels’ signature second. Would he have one other one?
With 9 seconds left on the Washington 36, Daniels hit Ertz for six yards, consuming up 5 seconds and giving him a greater likelihood for a desperation heave.
The Cowboys initially rushed two earlier than rookie linebacker Marist Liufau took off after Daniels. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons served as a spy on the play after which pressured Daniels to scramble. His desperation move tipped off Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and Washington receiver Luke McCaffrey into the arms of Israel Mukuamu to finish the sport.
McCarthy: They did good job for 9 seconds, took the completion, then received into vary to throw the Hail Mary. Yeah, simply actually centered into the sport as a result of it is the Nationwide Soccer League. We present the cut-ups each week. Ryan Feder is our recreation administration director. He does an outstanding job. Final night time. I believe he had eight, 9, 10 video games that it got here right down to the final play or the final collection final week. That is why we do it. That is why we spend the time on it. Undoubtedly ready for it, these conditions.
Parsons: I’ve by no means been part of one thing like that.
