Washington came to play the Cowboys with a mission to not get embarrassed. It almost worked.
That doesn’t mean the Commanders won, they didn’t, losing 45-10, but just four days after a new season low point in a home loss to the Giants, at least Ron Rivera’s team was not a total mess.
Until the fourth quarter.
Going into the final frame Washington trailed only 20-10 and its defense had forced two consecutive Cowboys punts. Perhaps sensing his team had a chance at a key score with 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Ron Rivera decided to go for it on 4th and short from his own 34 yard-line, and the result was disastrous.