The Washington Commanders didn't make things easy in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. It seemed for a long time as if this would be another comfortable road triumph for Dan Quinn's squad. A second-half slump almost saw them snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Washington needed a two-point conversion stop with no time remaining on the clock to secure a pivotal win in their quest for the postseason. They stay in the seventh seed after the Green Bay Packers easily disposed of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. But things must improve dramatically to keep the Los Angeles Rams at arm's length.
A win is a win. The Commanders used their get-out-of-jail-free card to secure a winning record with three contests remaining. It wasn't easy, but winning ugly is as important as blowing teams out.
It wouldn't have been so dramatic had the clock not frozen on the nine-second mark, but it didn't matter in the end. Chalk this up as a lucky escape and ensure the same mistakes don't arrive during their daunting Week 16 home game versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's victory at the Caesars Superdome.
Winners and losers from Commanders' success at the Saints
Winner No. 1
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
With Daron Payne not at 100 percent and Phidarian Mathis being a healthy scratch again, the onus was on Johnny Newton to step up and make his presence felt. The second-round pick answered the call with an outstanding display.
Newton is starting to come alive. Injuries throughout the offseason hindered his ability to make an immediate contribution. When Jonathan Allen went out with a torn bicep in Week 6, the former Illinois standout was thrown into the fire.
It's not perfect, but Newton's progress is encouraging. He was a disruptive force for the Washington Commanders in this one, maintaining a core base on running plays and generating pressure from the interior when the situation dictated.
Allen hasn't given up hope of featuring again this season. Regardless of whether he comes back, Newton looks like a future cornerstone piece to build around.
Loser No. 1
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
The return of stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore was a much-needed boost. This also relegated Benjamin St-Juste to reserve duties at the expense of the four-time Pro Bowler.
St-Juste has finally lost the good graces of head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The former third-round selection hasn't capitalized on the opportunities given and suffered accordingly. It seems as if the final straw was reached at the New Orleans Saints.
After yet another defensive pass interference penalty on his second snap, St-Juste went to the bench and wasn't seen again. This was a damning indictment of how the coaching staff perceived his abilities. It typifies how the campaign has gone for the veteran.
There is no faith remaining in the Minnesota product. St-Juste's lack of technical prowess and inability to keep wide receivers in front of him remains an ongoing source of frustration. When the player's rookie deal expires after the campaign, the Commanders can move on with little fanfare attached.
Winner No. 2
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels missing so many key playmakers — a situation made worse when tight end Zach Ertz went out with a concussion — there was even more pressure on wide receiver Terry McLaurin. As he's done on countless occasions throughout his career, the Pro Bowl wide receiver stepped up to the plate.
McLaurin was outstanding throughout. His sensational touchdown catch early in the contest added another incredible highlight to his increasing collection. Another one followed soon after. Had it not been for Daniels missing him on a deep score late in the game, the former third-round pick would have had a hat-trick.
The Commanders' best weapon finished with seven receptions from 10 targets for 73 receiving yards and two scores. McLaurin is now on 11 touchdowns for the season. He's firmly in the All-Pro conversation and is getting some long-deserved adulation from the national media along the way.
With Austin Ekeler, Noah Brown, and potentially Ertz missing down the stretch, McLaurin must keep up these performance levels for the Commanders to stand any chance of making the playoffs. Nothing else will do before attention turns to finding more weapons in the offseason.
Loser No. 2
Commanders OL
We'll put the entire offensive line together rather than single anybody out. This was an afternoon to forget for the protection in front of Jayden Daniels.
The protection was dealt a blow shortly before the game when starting center Tyler Biadasz couldn't go due to illness. To say his presence was sorely missed would be an understatement.
Michael Deiter came in for Biadasz and failed to meet expectations. He isn't a starting-caliber performer. It was an obvious downgrade that had a ripple effect on everybody else.
The New Orleans Saints smelled blood and capitalized accordingly. Right tackle Andrew Wylie returned to the lineup but was his inconsistent self. Things weren't much better on the blindside. Their interior was adequate, but it was more sloppy than usual from the guard tandem of Sam Cosmi and Nick Allegretti.
Daniels was sacked eight times. He walked into a couple, but the offensive line was responsible for the large majority. Hopefully, this is just a blip rather than anything more concerning.
We'll find out for sure when the Commanders take on a phenomenal Philadelphia Eagles defensive front this weekend.
Winner No. 3
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
The Commanders have a star on their hands in Mike Sainristil. While rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels gains the majority of national attention with good reason, general manager Adam Peters secured another future cornerstone piece in the gifted defensive back during his first draft at the helm.
Sainristil overcame some early jitters to become a huge part of Washington's defensive strategy. His transition from the slot to the boundary went extremely well. It's also something the Commanders are intent on moving forward with despite the return of Marshon Lattimore.
The No. 50 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft looked assured in coverage more often than not. Sainristil gained two pass breakups and an interception during another stylish display. He's not the finished product yet, but the early returns on this investment are immensely encouraging.
Having Lattimore locking up one side of the field means opposing offenses will target Sainristil a lot more down the stretch. Fortunately for the Commanders, the Michigan product looks more than capable of coping with the spotlight glaring.
Loser No. 3
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
With Noah Brown missing and recent addition K.J. Osborn not ready to contribute, the Washington Commanders needed their wide receivers further down the pecking order to step up. Many fans were hoping this was the window of opportunity Luke McCaffrey needed to firmly establish himself in the team's plans.
That didn't arrive. McCaffrey caught the eye with a couple of decent kick returns. However, his involvement in the passing game was non-existent.
The No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft didn't bring in his only target. McCaffrey was used as a decoy aside from that. Returning veteran Jamison Crowder ate into his snaps from the slot, which represented a step back for the Rice product when the opposite was anticipated.
This was disappointing, but not entirely surprising. The Commanders are taking their time with McCaffery, bringing him along gradually and continuing his development behind the scenes. That makes him an unknown quantity with just three games remaining.
McCaffrey is still learning his craft, so pressing the panic button so early into his career would be foolish. But general manager Adam Peters needs to find more prolific weapons to maximize Jayden Daniels' rookie contract.
Winner No. 4
Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB
Marshon Lattimore's long-awaited debut finally arrived against the team that traded him away. The Washington Commanders gave the four-time Pro Bowler a hefty workload after he came through a full week of practice unscathed. It didn't take long to figure out that the New Orleans Saints were in no mood to test him.
Whether it was Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler under center, the Saints didn't throw a single target in Lattimore's direction. They know better than most how much damage he can do when given opportunities. Looking away from his side of the field was their preferred approach — something that almost snatched victory late in proceedings.
This is a sign of respect. Lattimore's one of the league's best shutdown presences. He's highly competitive and remains a genuine difference-maker. Even after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, New Orleans erred on the side of caution and focused its attention elsewhere in pursuit of moving the chains.
The Commanders haven't had a cornerback like this for years. Lattimore's next challenge against A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will be more difficult. However, this was an outstanding start to his Washington journey.
