Stefon Diggs finally got loose in his Commanders debut, and the moment that should have been the start of Washington’s comeback turned into a penalty that changed everything.
With Washington trailing Philadelphia in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Jayden Daniels hit Diggs for a 10-yard touchdown that trimmed the deficit to 17-15 with under ten minutes left. The score put the Commanders in position for an automatic two-point try to tie it.
Diggs never let that happen. He bolted through the end zone, jumped onto the base of the goalpost and fell backward onto the turf, drawing an immediate unsportsmanlike conduct flag from the officials.
The NFL later posted a highlight of the play, but the league’s version skipped the celebration entirely.
That 15-yard penalty had a real impact on Washington’s next decision. Instead of lining up for two, the Commanders were pushed back to a 48-yard extra point attempt and had to kick. Philadelphia held on for a 24-22 win, with the missed two-point conversion on Washington’s final touchdown proving decisive.
Daniels said after the game that the penalty changed the way the Commanders had to handle the finish. “We just got to be smart,” the quarterback said. “We probably would have gone for two there.”
Diggs has been down this road before. He was flagged for the same goalpost celebration in 2017 and was fined $12,154. Based on the league’s fine schedule, this one is expected to cost him close to $15,000 as a first offense this season.
The Commanders signed the four-time Pro Bowl receiver to a one-year deal in August, hoping he would give Daniels another dependable target. He was quiet for most of the day against a familiar division opponent, with only a couple of catches before halftime, before finally breaking through in the fourth quarter. This time, though, the celebration ended up being just as memorable as the touchdown.
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