The Washington Commanders didn't make things easy in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. It seemed for a long time as if this would be another comfortable road triumph for Dan Quinn's squad. A second-half slump almost saw them snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Washington needed a two-point conversion stop with no time remaining on the clock to secure a pivotal win in their quest for the postseason. They stay in the seventh seed after the Green Bay Packers easily disposed of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. But things must improve dramatically to keep the Los Angeles Rams at arm's length.
A win is a win. The Commanders used their get-out-of-jail-free card to secure a winning record with three contests remaining. It wasn't easy, but winning ugly is as important as blowing teams out.
It wouldn't have been so dramatic had the clock not frozen on the nine-second mark, but it didn't matter in the end. Chalk this up as a lucky escape and ensure the same mistakes don't arrive during their daunting Week 16 home game versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's victory at the Caesars Superdome.
Winners and losers from Commanders' success at the Saints
Winner No. 1
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
With Daron Payne not at 100 percent and Phidarian Mathis being a healthy scratch again, the onus was on Johnny Newton to step up and make his presence felt. The second-round pick answered the call with an outstanding display.
Newton is starting to come alive. Injuries throughout the offseason hindered his ability to make an immediate contribution. When Jonathan Allen went out with a torn bicep in Week 6, the former Illinois standout was thrown into the fire.
It's not perfect, but Newton's progress is encouraging. He was a disruptive force for the Washington Commanders in this one, maintaining a core base on running plays and generating pressure from the interior when the situation dictated.
Allen hasn't given up hope of featuring again this season. Regardless of whether he comes back, Newton looks like a future cornerstone piece to build around.