With only playoff seeding on the line, the Commanders replaced rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at the half trailing 6-3 to Dallas.
But back-up Marcus Mariota came in and threw the game-winning touchdown, a 5-yard pass to Terry McLaurin with just three seconds to play.
The Green Bay Packers, already assured of a playoff spot, suffered injuries to quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson in a 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Watson suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and Love followed shortly afterward with an elbow problem which was later described as a precautionary move by coach Matt LaFleur.
The Packers will face the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the wildcard round.
The Tennessee Titans will have the number one draft pick after they lost 23-14 to the Houston Texans while the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 23-16.
The Patriots would have had the first pick had they not pulled off the upset win over a playoff-bound Bills team that gave quarterback Josh Allen just one snap before he was replaced.
Shortly after the game, Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
Aaron Rodgers became just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 career touchdowns, reaching the milestone during his New York Jets’ 32-20 win over Miami.
Rodgers, whose future is unclear, threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns in the win for the 5-12 Jets.© 2025 AFP
