Commanders head coach Dan Quinn would get something close to vindication several drives later when he dialed up a brazen passing play on a fourth-down from the Lions’ nine-yard line.

The Commanders took a major gamble with Jayden Daniels in the lineup on fourth down. But Marcus Mariota ended up getting criticized.

To upset the No. 1 seeded Detroit Lions on the road, the Washington Commanders knew they'd probably have to be perfect. They knew they'd have to pull out every trick from their bag to steal points, possessions,

Marcus Mariota’s clutch play in the game’s final seconds earned the Commanders a six playoff seed highlighting the power of unseen preparation.

Terry McLaurin noted how backup Marcus Mariota has been "the right kind of person" to share a quarterback room with Jayden Daniels.