Given the way Biden was polling, even though she lost, Harris probably did help to considerably minimize the damage in the legislative elections. Seeing how close some of the Senate races were, that could have easily been a 57-43 Senate with Biden dragging things down. Obviously they're the minority either way, but if they even want a chance of getting control in the next 6 years, they needed to hold on to some seats.
The stakes in the House weren't quite as high because they have elections every 2 years, but keeping the Republicans to a 10-seat cushion might help blunt some of the craziest legislation. There are hopefully enough blue state moderate Republican House members who won't necessarily go all in on the crazy.
People compare this election to 2016, and for the Presidency that's probably apt. But the Republicans ended up with a 47-seat majority in Congress that year which is far bigger than what they'll get this year.
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