Commanders Fall Short on Two-Point Gamble, but Mariota Embraces the Call
The Commanders went for the win in overtime Sunday night - and came up just short. A failed two-point conversion sealed a 27-26 loss, but if you ask Marcus Mariota, the decision to go for it wasn’t just the right call - it was a show of trust.
“I loved it,” Mariota said after the game. “There wasn’t any doubt in our minds.
I appreciate the confidence from Q. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t convert.”
Mariota, stepping in as the backup quarterback, saw the opportunity as more than just a play - it was a moment of belief from head coach Dan Quinn. And Quinn made it clear that this was the plan all along.
“Going into overtime, that was the strategy,” Quinn said. “We had a play we liked against man coverage.
It got batted down, but it’s something we practice a lot. I hate the outcome, but there was no hesitation.
From the start, our mindset was: we’re going to score, and we’re going to go for two.”
It’s a gutsy approach, and while it didn’t pay off this time, it sends a message about the team’s mentality under Quinn - aggressive, confident, and willing to bet on their guys in the biggest moments. For Mariota, that trust mattered. And for a team still finding its footing, those moments can go a long way in building something bigger.
Cowboys Rolling, and Prescott Says Schottenheimer’s Steady Hand Is Leading the Way
The Cowboys are heating up at just the right time. After knocking off the Chiefs on Thanksgiving, Dallas looks every bit like a team ready to make a serious postseason push. And while Dak Prescott has been playing some of the best football of his career, he’s quick to point to someone else as the steadying force behind the team’s surge: head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
“It’s been amazing,” Prescott said. “He’s consistent.
He talks about it all the time, but to actually watch him be the same guy through adversity and now through success - that’s leadership. He’s the right man for the job.
We’re all following him.”
Schottenheimer’s impact goes beyond X’s and O’s. The recent loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland hit the team hard, and Schottenheimer didn’t shy away from showing emotion. If anything, it’s deepened his connection with the locker room.
“I’m a compassionate person. I love people,” Schottenheimer said.
“(Kneeland’s death) really impacted me. It reminded me how blessed I am to be in this role and how much I love these young men.
I’m not afraid to cry in front of them when I’m sad. I’m not afraid to yell when I’m mad.
I stay true to my emotions. I’ve got a lot of energy and juice - and that’s always going to show.”
What stands out is Schottenheimer’s commitment to authenticity. He’s not trying to be someone else now that he’s in charge. And that’s resonating with the players.
“I’ll always be honest with them,” he said. “A lot of people change when they get into this position.
I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ll never do that.
It’s not the best way to be successful.”
For a team with sky-high expectations and a roster built to win now, that kind of leadership - steady, real, and emotionally invested - might be exactly what gets them over the hump.
Giants Like What They See in Dart - But Want Him to Protect Himself
There’s no questioning Jaxson Dart’s upside. The Giants have seen flashes of what the young quarterback can become. But right now, they’re also seeing the risks - namely, the concussion that has him sidelined and the reckless playing style that helped lead to it.
The message from his teammates? We love your fire. But please, slide.
“When he’s running on the field, everyone’s yelling, ‘Slide! Slide!’”
said tight end Theo Johnson. “Even in the building and at practice, it’s like, ‘Hey, in the game, that’s going to be a slide, right?’”
Veteran wideout Darius Slayton didn’t hold back either.
“I tell him all the time. I’m like, ‘Bro, please get down!’”
Slayton said. “Franchise quarterbacks, when they go down, the season’s over.”
Dart gets it. He knows the best ability is availability. But making that adjustment from college to the NFL isn’t easy - especially for a guy who made a name for himself by never backing down from contact.
“Moving forward, I have to be more available for this team,” Dart said. “This is obviously on the forefront of my mind.”
He’s learning on the fly, and he’s honest about the transition.
“I’m still getting used to this game. I’m getting used to this speed, this level,” he said.
“In college, you can watch my tape - I very rarely slid. This is a different beast.
I have to be more responsible when I’m in the open field. But I felt I was getting better at it each and every week.”
There’s a fine line between fearless and reckless, and Dart is right in the middle of trying to walk it. The Giants believe in his talent - now they just need him to stay on the field long enough to show it.