The Miracle on Ice.
The Thrilla in Manilla.
The Washington Commanders’ preseason win against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 21, 2023.
To Commanders second-year receiver Jahan Dotson, Washington’s 29-28 win over the Ravens that snapped Baltimore’s record 24-game preseason winning streak has cemented itself in sporting history.
“I was sitting in bed watching ESPN all day, and all you could hear about is this streak, the streak,” Dotson said Monday night after catching five passes, according to ESPN. “I feel like we just had the biggest preseason W in history.
“It was definitely pretty cool knowing what they had on the line that we could end that.”
Biggest preseason win ever is certainly a take and it’s hard to challenge that opinion considering, well, preseason games don’t count.
But Dotston and the Commanders think it’s real, dammit.
Just check out the reaction from Commanders kicker Joey Slye after he booted the game-winning 49-yard field goal that snapped the streak.
Slye celebrated by holding up an L while running toward the sideline, seemingly telling the Ravens to “Hold this L.”
Washington guard Sam Cosmi even called it a “stupid record” leading into the game.
“Who gives a s—t about preseason games?” Cosmi told reporters. “If we beat it, great. We’re going to beat it, so there we go.”
The Commanders’ social media team certainly had its fun with a clever tweet showcasing the end of The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak at the hands of Brock Lesnar.
Perhaps the video made sense since scripted professional wrestling events carry about as much weight in sporting history as preseason contests.
It’s worth noting that the Ravens treated this entirely as a preseason game with Lamar Jackson sitting and third-string quarterback Josh Johnson starting, while Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell started and completed 19 of 25 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh certainly noticed how Washington celebrated this win over its regional rivals, but didn’t condemn the actions.
“I don’t want to get into all of that,” Harbaugh said when asked if Washington appeared motivated to win, according to ESPN. “People say what they say. Obviously, it was meaningful to them. I saw them celebrating over there. More power to them. Congratulations. They won a hard-fought football game.
“They deserve it in the end to celebrate.”
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hinted at some agitation with the Commanders celebrating as if they won their first Super Bowl since 1992.
“I don’t care about their team. I care about ours,” Tucker told ESPN. “I will leave it at that.”