It took another three-and-out from the Raiders for the Commanders to get a spark. They got in range for a 46-yard field goal from Gay and answered the Raiders’ 9-play, 80-yard scoring drive with McNichols’ 60-yard touchdown run. Bobby Wagner picked up one of his two sacks to help force another Raiders punt, and Mariota’s run, which left Quinn with a cut on the nose, moved the ball close enough for a 56-yard field goal to make it 20-10 at halftime.
Neither team’s offense did much to start the third quarter with both teams combining for –14 yards, but Lane and the special teams unit were there to provide another momentum swing. Lane fielded the ball at the Commanders’ 10-yard line and cut through the middle of the Raiders’ coverage. He shrugged off a tackle attempt from punter AJ Cole near midfield and went untouched the rest of the way.
The Commanders found the end zone again following another Raiders punt. McLaurin got open down the sideline for a 56-yard reception that moved the ball to the 1-yard line. Jacory Croskey-Merritt capped off the drive with the one-yard run, putting the Commanders up 34-10 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders tried to climb back into the game and nearly succeeded. Tucker scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, cutting the Commanders’ lead from 24 to 10 with three minutes left. But the Commanders put things away for good on their final drive of the game, as Luke McCaffrey got open for a 43-yard touchdown, which he celebrated by jumping into the stands.
Quinn wasn’t surprised by the team coming back from a tough loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers 10 days ago, but he was pleased to see it unfold, even if he took a few bumps and bruises to do so.
“When you can capitalize and win on field position…keeping them pinned back, those are winning football moments,” Quinn said. “And when you do it…the story almost writes itself.”