Terry McLaurin Embraces Spoiler Role as Commanders Look to Finish Strong
Terry McLaurin’s been here before. The Washington Commanders’ veteran wideout has seen seasons slip away, watched playoff hopes fade, and still found ways to lead with purpose.
At 4-10, the Commanders are out of the postseason picture-but that doesn’t mean they’re out of reasons to play. And McLaurin, ever the competitor, knows exactly what’s left on the table: pride, division rivalries, and a chance to shake up the NFC East.
With three games remaining-all against NFC East foes-Washington has a rare opportunity to play spoiler. The Commanders face the Eagles twice and the Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Wins won’t change their own fate, but they could have a serious impact on the playoff picture. And for McLaurin, that’s more than enough motivation.
“We have a unique opportunity at the end of this season,” McLaurin said this week. “We aren't in the playoffs, but we have four division games... you want to finish strong, you want to finish this season with a sense of pride. We've got to have that mentality that we're going to leave here with something.”
That “something” might just be the satisfaction of knocking a rival out of the postseason. The Eagles are in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, needing just one more win-or a Cowboys loss-to clinch the division.
But Washington could throw a wrench in that plan. A win this Saturday over Philadelphia would open the door to potentially eliminating either the Cowboys in Week 17 or the Eagles in Week 18.
It’s a long shot, sure-but it’s the kind of scenario that gets a competitor like McLaurin fired up.
And make no mistake, McLaurin wants to win. Not for draft position, not for moral victories-just to win football games. Period.
This season hasn’t gone the way he hoped. It began with a contract dispute that kept him out of offseason activities, and then a quad injury sidelined him for eight games.
He’s only played three games with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and even those were limited-Daniels exited one of them early. It’s been a frustrating stretch for one of the league’s most consistent receivers.
But since returning to the field, McLaurin has done what he always does: compete. He’s been productive, yes, but more importantly, he’s set the tone. He’s shown what leadership looks like in a lost season-playing hard, staying engaged, and making sure the locker room doesn’t check out.
The Commanders have turned to Marcus Mariota at quarterback after shutting down Daniels for the season, and while the offense hasn’t lit up the scoreboard, there’s been a noticeable edge to the team’s play. Dan Quinn’s squad has shown more fight in recent weeks, and with nothing left to lose, they’re approaching these final games with a chip on their shoulder.
That’s exactly the kind of environment McLaurin thrives in. He’s not just playing out the string-he’s hunting for a strong finish.
And if that means derailing a rival’s playoff run along the way? Even better.
Washington’s season may not end in January, but McLaurin’s not letting it fade quietly. He’s got three games left, and he’s determined to make every one of them count.