Quick facts from Week 15 win over the Saints

The Commanders survived and that’s about all they did late, holding on dearly for a 20-19 win over the Saints at Caesars Stadium in New Orleans.

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Here are some of the quick facts from the ninth win of the Commanders’ season:

• It was ugly, and they were holding on for dear life, but it was the Commanders’ 9th win of the year. The first time that has happened since the 2015 season. Ron Rivera often mentioned how they were division winners in 2020, but it was a losing 7-9 season.
• The Commanders were 9 for 17 on third downs today and 1-1 on fourth down.
• The Commanders ran 74 offensive plays to only 51 for the Saints. However, their drives were killed by giving up an obscene eight quarterback sacks.
• Today, the Commanders were called for nine penalties for a loss of 84 yards. The most crucial was a Dyami Brown reception which would have allowed the Commanders to run the clock down to less than a minute, but a holding penalty negated it.
• Today was the tale of two games: Washington dominated the first two and one-half quarters by a 17-0 margin. However, in the last one-and-one-half quarter, the Saints outscored the Commanders 19-3.
• Jayden Daniels completed 25 of 31 passes for 226 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions, but he was sacked eight times!
• For the third game this season, the Commanders allowed 0 first-half points. The last time they accomplished this feat was in the 2015 season.
• Terry McLaurin had seven receptions for 73 yards and two touchdown receptions, which gave McLaurin 11 receiving touchdowns this season, a career-high.
• Terry McLaurin’s two first-half touchdown receptions was the second time he has done this in 2024. The last time a Washington player caught two touchdowns in a half was Jordan Reed in 2015.
• Dominating the first half, the Commanders had a 13-2 lead in first downs, were 6-9 on third downs while the Saints were only 1-6, and had outgained the Saints 165-38. However, they only led 14-0.
• Veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder missed most of the season on injured reserve. Returning today, he contributed three receptions for 27 yards.
• With the loss of KR/ RB Austin Ekeler, Luke McCaffrey today stepped in and had three returns for 30+ yards.
• TE Zach Ertz made a nice one-handed grab but was injured on the tackle. He was ruled out with a concussion and did not return. If he can’t return next week vs the Eagles, this could be huge.
• Saints QB Jake Haener passed for…