Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn might as well have been summing up the season when he described his team's escape against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
"Whew," Quinn exhaled. "Another wild game."
As the surprising Commanders occupy the third and final wild-card berth in the NFC, their "wild" ride might come down to two plays that shaped their season.
With their victory in Seattle on Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers improved to 10-4, a game ahead of the 9-5 Commanders with three games remaining. The outcome, however, wasn't all bad as it dropped the Seahawks to 8-6 and a game behind Washington.
The Commanders' path to the playoffs is simple: They clinch a berth with wins in their final three games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. But, as we've learned, nothing with these Commanders is simple.
That are this close to 7-7.
The first pivotal play was the Hail Mary victory over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 27. Not only was it an unlikely result, but the way in which the Bears defended it — tipping the ball instead of slapping it down — made it unusually improbable.
Then came Sunday in New Orleans. Favored to win by about a touchdown, the Commanders built a 17-0 lead on the Saints, who played without injured quarterback Derek Carr. Then they had to hang on for dear life.
After new kicker Greg Joseph missed a potential game-clinching 54-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining, Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler led a 56-yard drive and — after catching a break from officials who mistakenly stopped the clock — threw a 1-yard TD pass to Foster Moreau as time expired.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi went for the win, but the Commanders smothered wide receiver Juwan Johnson on the two-point pass attempt to survive and escape.
Two razor-thin plays. Two positive results. Quinn and the Commanders are on the cusp of parlaying their good fortune into a playoff berth.
