The loss to Philly was the beginning not the end for the Commanders
- On Sunday, the Washington Commanders‘ season concluded in the NFC Championship game with a 55-23 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia. Washington finished the season with 14 wins, including 12 regular-season victories, upsetting the NFC’s No. 3 seed Buccaneers and last week the No. 1 seed Lions to advance to the conference championship game for the first time in 33 years.
In a disappointed Commanders locker room after the game, head coach Dan Quinn told his players to “savor these moments.” He added, “We’ll have plenty of time to talk about missed opportunities. That wasn’t tonight for them.”
Jedi 5 is the future of the Commanders
After the game the rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels made it clear he never wants to feel that way again, stating, “I don’t want to have a feeling like this again.” He emphasized that it would serve as motivation for both him and his teammates heading into the 2025 season.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, was the player the Commanders wanted. He has won over the entire DMV (The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia), as well as the players and coaches on the Commanders.
His calm and take-charge style demonstrated a poise that few rookies possess. He excelled when the game was on the line, leading the Commanders to seven victories in the final moments. The press began to nickname Daniels “Jedi 5” for his ability to win games in the clutch.
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Regular Season Records:
- Completion Percentage: 69.0%
- Rushing Yards: 891 yards
Playoffs Records:
- Most Offensive Yards by a Rookie (including playoffs): 5,415 yards
- Most Passing Yards by a Rookie in Playoffs: 822 yards
- Most Rookie Quarterback Wins (regular season and playoffs): 14 wins (tied with Ben Roethlisberger)
- Completion Percentage in Playoffs (min. 25 attempts): 69.7%
- Passer Rating in Playoffs (min. 25 attempts): 116.2
- Most Touchdown Passes in Playoffs by a Rookie: 5 touchdowns
Daniels’ performance has been nothing short of historic, leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship game as a rookie
New ownership and coaches have won the players and the fans trust
After years of enduring the Dan Snyder era of football, Washington had nearly given up on the team. A team that once boasted a season ticket waiting list of nearly 200,000 was now struggling to sell out home games.
But things began to change when Snyder sold the franchise for a record $6 billion to Josh Harris and his investment group, which included Magic Johnson. Harris, who grew up a fan of the Redskins, quickly showed how different he was from Snyder.
Harris hired as his General Manager Adam Peter from the 49ers and ne built a staff and that included the adding a new head coach. Ron Rivera was replaced by Dan Quinn who came to Washington after serving as the defensive coordinator in Dallas. He had head coaching experience with Atlanta taking the Falcons to a Super Bowl before falling out of favor with management.
Peters appointed Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator, a former head coach of the Cardinals. He possesses extensive offensive coaching experience in both college and professional football. His comprehension of the run-pass option offense aligns perfectly with Daniels’ skill set.
Winning and a fresh new outlook has brought the fans back
Washington’s NFL franchise, long associated with numerous controversies, congressional hearings, federal investigations, and a history of losing, has remarkably under new ownership started getting fans excited again. Fans in the DMV area are regaining their confidence as the team, which only won four games last year, is now discovering ways to win games they used to lose.
Under the new leadership of Quinn, Danniels started winning this season, often in nail-biting fashion. A last-second field goal to beat the New York Giants. A highlight-reel Hail Mary to stun the Chicago Bears. A game-winning kick that doinked off an upright to topple the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs
Quinn aimed to foster team unity by rearranging the locker room so that new teammates were placed next to each other. This allowed the players to get to know one another better, and it effectively strengthened the team’s cohesion.
Conclusion-The best is yet to come
Danniels and the young core, along with Quinn and Peters, are poised to build on the success this season. Suddenly, Washington has become a desirable destination for free agents. In terms of money to spend in 2025, only New England and Las Vegas have more than the $81.75 million that the Commanders have available.
With both Dallas and the Giants not close to being contenders in the NFC East but both Washington and Philly are built to compete.
So, the future is very bright for the Commanders and the fans are headed home.
Washington based CEO & Founder of LJC. Media covering politics, sports, & entertainment A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director, and podcast host. Digital Director and Washington Bureau Chief at News Talk Florida & The Daily Cable
