‘I’ve Never Been a Part of Something Like That’: Inside the Cowboys-Commanders Wild Fourth Quarter
LANDOVER, Md. — For 57 minutes, the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys played what could only be described as a snooze-fest. The Cowboys held an 11-point lead, and the teams had combined for just 29 points. But then, in the final 2 minutes and 49 seconds, chaos erupted, and the game transformed into one of the most thrilling finishes of the NFL season.
In a span of less than three minutes, fans witnessed a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown, an 86-yard touchdown pass, a missed extra point that could have tied the game, an onside kick returned for a touchdown, and a Hail Mary interception that sealed the Cowboys’ 34-26 victory. The win snapped Dallas’ five-game losing streak and extended Washington’s skid to three games.
“It’s like Yahtzee,” said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. “I think everything was in there.”
With the victory, the Cowboys improved to 4-7, while the Commanders fell to 7-5, losing the momentum they had built earlier in the season. The emotional rollercoaster left players and fans alike stunned.
“It was crazy,” said Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner. “We saw him bust up that run, and then we miss a [extra point].”
“I’ve never been part of something like that,” added Dallas defensive end Micah Parsons.
The Final Four Minutes: A Breakdown
The final four minutes of the game were nothing short of historic. The teams combined to score 31 points, the most in the last four minutes of an NFL game since Baltimore and Minnesota put up 36 points in 2013. Here’s how it all unfolded:
- Jayden Daniels threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz, followed by a successful two-point conversion, cutting Dallas’ lead to 20-17.
- KaVontae Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, extending Dallas’ lead to 27-17.
- Washington responded with a field goal, trimming the deficit to 27-20.
- Terry McLaurin hauled in an 86-yard touchdown pass from Daniels, but kicker Austin Seibert missed the extra point, leaving the score at 27-26.
- Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned Washington’s onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown, sealing the game at 34-26.
Turpin’s Electrifying Kick Return
With just over three minutes left, Washington had all the momentum after Daniels’ touchdown pass. But Turpin flipped the script in spectacular fashion. After mishandling the kickoff, letting it roll between his legs to the 1-yard line, Turpin recovered, executed a dazzling spin move, and raced 99 yards to the end zone.
“My first thought was to catch it on the run, but I couldn’t,” Turpin said. “Once I got the ball, I was thinking about going down and just letting our offense bleed the clock. But I’m like, ‘Let me hit this spin move. Something nobody’s ever seen before.’”
According to Next Gen Stats, Turpin reached a top speed of 21.35 mph during the return, just shy of the 22.36 mph he hit on a touchdown catch the previous week.
McLaurin’s 86-Yard Miracle
With 33 seconds left, Washington needed a miracle, and McLaurin delivered. Daniels connected with him at the Washington 41-yard line, and McLaurin weaved through defenders, thanks to a key block by Noah Brown, before sprinting untouched into the end zone.
“You never know what can happen,” McLaurin said. “When I got the ball, I just tried to score. We practice those situations all the time.”
The Missed Extra Point
Seibert, who had been reliable all season, missed the extra point wide left, leaving Washington trailing by one. It was his second missed PAT of the game, a rare off day for the kicker.
“I just wasn’t striking it well,” Seibert admitted. “It was on me.”
Thomas’ Onside Kick Return
With 21 seconds left, Washington attempted an onside kick, but it backfired spectacularly. The ball landed in Thomas’ hands, and instead of going down as instructed, he sprinted 43 yards for a touchdown.
“Man, all I seen was end zone,” Thomas said. “Next time I’m going to go down.”
The Final Hail Mary
Even after Thomas’ touchdown, Washington had one last chance. Daniels launched a desperation Hail Mary, but it was intercepted by Israel Mukuamu, ending the game and sealing Dallas’ victory.
“They did a nice job for 9 seconds,” McCarthy said. “Definitely prepared for it, these situations.”
For the Cowboys, it was a much-needed win. For the Commanders, it was a gut-wrenching loss. But for fans, it was a game they’ll never forget.
Originally Written by: John Keim
