Terry McLaurin would not be denied on the Washington Commanders’ final offensive drive against the Indianapolis Colts. Playing in his hometown of Indianapolis and against the team he cheered as a youth, McLaurin willed the Commanders to a victory with an acrobatic catch over Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore that would rival the legendary Randy Moss.
The Commanders trailed 16-10 with less than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. On 1st-and-10 from the Colts’ 34-yard line, McLaurin beat Gilmore with a stop-and-go. McLaurin threw his hand up to signal to his quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who extended the play with his leg, to toss him the football.
Heinicke did so. However, the pass hung in the air, forcing McLaurin to turn back. It also allowed Gilmore to catch up with the ball. That’s when McLaurin enforced his will, jumping up and snatching the ball out of Gilmore’s grasp.
McLaurin held on to the football as he landed at the one-yard line for a 33-yard catch. McLaurin leaped to proclaim, “This is my city,” with a few other words.
McLaurin’s heroics set up a 1st-and-goal from the one with 26 seconds remaining. Heinicke capped the drive with a QB sneak into the end zone to tie the game at 16-16.
Washington’s kicker Joey Slye made the extra point that handed the Commanders their third straight win.
McLaurin finished the game with six catches for 113 yards. He also came away with an unforgettable memory.
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