If we've learned anything about the Washington Commanders over the last five weeks, it's that they can win close games, no matter who's in at quarterback.

With the Commanders down 6-3 at halftime, veteran backup Marcus Mariota took over for Jayden Daniels in the third quarter. The last time that happened, it was because Daniels had suffered a rib injury against the Carolina Panthers that hampered him for weeks. This time, it was more of a precautionary measure to keep Daniels healthy for the Wild Card Round next week.

Washington's 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys wasn't a flashy way to close out the regular season, but like that 40-7 blowout win over the Panthers, Mariota did what was asked of him. He completed 15-of-18 passes for 161 yards and scored three total touchdowns, including the five-yard game-winning touchdown to Terry McLaurin that helped the wideout set the single-season receiving touchdown record for the franchise.

Washington pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback for the third consecutive week, although this one technically wasn't as necessary as the other three. Moments before the ball was snapped on second-and-goal with six seconds left, the Chicago Bears hit a game-winning field goal to beat the Green Bay Packers, locking the Commanders into the No. 6 seed of the playoffs.

For the Washington franchise, though, a win was more important than tweaking their playoff position. For the first time since 1991, the Commanders have won 12 games in a season, breaking a 34-year drought. Say what you want about how they have looked at times since the bye week, but since their last matchup against the Cowboys, which ended in a 34-26 loss, they have won their last five -- a first for the team since 2012.

And while the Commanders didn't get much from Daniels in two quarters -- 6-of-12 for 38 yards -- his stats for the season are enough evidence for them to believe they finally have their answer at the quarterback position. Daniels closed out his rookie season by completing 68.9% of his passes for 3,568 yards with 31 total touchdowns, nine interceptions and 891 rushing yards.

Daniels will lead the Commanders to their first playoff berth since 2020 with hopes of winning their first playoff game since 2005.

As clutch as the Commanders have been in critical moments for the last month, it's clear that they still have plenty to clean up if they hope to have a deep postseason run. Penalties and missed opportunities have been problems that led to them giving up a 17-0 lead against the New Orleans Saints and deficits of 14 and 10 points against the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.

The Commanders were once again sloppy against the Cowboys, who started Trey Lance in the finale. Lance and the Dallas offense could only manage six points in the first half, but it was enough for a lead because of the Commanders' offensive struggles. They punted on their first four drives with just 21 yards on 16 plays.

All the Commanders' problems were present to start the afternoon. The Commanders' opening possession was stymied by two sacks on Daniels, both by Micah Parsons; an offensive holding call on John Bates negated a four-yard run and turned a second-and-4 into a first-and-20; and Olamide Zaccheaus dropping a wide-open pass in the end zone from Dyami Brown left them settling for three points instead of seven.

There were moments that, had it not been for the defense, the Cowboys could have opened up the game even more. Jamison Crowder muffed a punt at the start of the second quarter, moving the Cowboys up to the Commanders' 22-yard line. Jeremy Chinn took Lance down for an eight-yard sack, which later led to Brandon Aubrey kicking a 41-yard field goal.

The defense came up big deep in their own territory a second time later in the second half, when a 15-play drive moved the Cowboys to Washington's 2-yard line. Both of Lance's passes to the end zone fell incomplete, keeping the score 6-3 at halftime.

Mariota took over the Commanders' offense after another Cowboys field goal started the third quarter, and just as it did in the previous three games, the unit came to life. Washington marched 70 yards on eight plays, including a 29-yard snag by Zaccheaus, and took the lead with a five-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz -- his seventh of the season.

The Cowboys retook the lead with a 22-yard field goal after the defense held them out of the end zone at their own 4-yard line, only for the Commanders to take it back again with another 70-yard touchdown drive. This time, Mariota took the ball in himself, shaking off a tackle behind the line of scrimmage before diving across the goal line.

Four minutes later, Dallas was back on top again with a touchdown of its own. A pass interference call on Benjamin St-Juste in the end zone moved the ball the Commanders' 1-yard line, and Rico Dowdle powered for a score that put them ahead, 19-16.

Washington's first attempt at retaking the lead ended in disaster. Mariota was sacked twice, leading to a total loss of 16 yards. It's second was much more successful; Mariota completed five passes during the drive, four of which went to McLaurin. Mariota also slipped past the Cowboys' defense on fourth-and-1 for a 33-yard gain that moved the Commanders to the Cowboys' 16-yard line.

With seconds left, Mariota lofted a pass to McLaurin in the corner of the end zone, and for the 13th time this season, the Pro Bowl receiver hauled it in to give the Commanders their first road win over the Cowboys since 2020.

The Commanders now have control of their No. 6 seed and will either play the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of playoffs, depending on who wins between the Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

That's a problem for later in the week, though. The Commanders give themselves a 24-hour rule to react to Sunday's results. This week's celebration feels like it's been decades in the making.