Washington Commanders Defy Doubters to Reach NFC Championship
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have been on a remarkable journey this season, one that has taken them from being underestimated to standing on the brink of a Super Bowl appearance. Head coach Dan Quinn, who has been at the helm of this transformation, recently shared his thoughts on the team’s journey and the mindset that has propelled them to the NFC Championship Game.
Reflecting on the season’s rocky start, Quinn recalled a conversation after the Commanders’ season-opening 37-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. An acquaintance had told him, “Hang in there. It’s going to be a long time.” Quinn’s response was anything but passive. “I was like, Hey F you, that’s not how it’s going to go down,” he said. “It wasn’t disrespect, it was dismissiveness, and I felt some kind of way. …It was we’re going to be a lot better than what we just showed today. And eventually we’ll show that. So not to prove it to everybody else or underdog stories, it’s how we get down.”
And indeed, the Commanders did get down to business. After that initial setback, they went on to win 12 of their next 16 regular-season games, followed by two playoff victories on the road. This impressive run has set the stage for a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) at 3 p.m. on Sunday, with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Despite their success, the Commanders still feel that the outside world hasn’t fully embraced their achievements. Rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil expressed this sentiment, saying, “Just how dominant we really are. I think we’re underestimated because teams just might think that they’re better than us or we’re a newer team. [But] whatever the outside noise is, it doesn’t matter to us.” He pointed to a slogan painted on the wall: “Anybody. Anywhere. Anytime.” This mantra encapsulates the team’s belief in themselves, regardless of external perceptions.
Entering the season, Washington wasn’t seen as a title contender, especially after a 4-13 record the previous year. The team underwent significant changes, with Quinn and first-time general manager Adam Peters taking charge, and a rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, leading the offense.
Washington’s playoff drought had been long and painful. The team hadn’t won a playoff game since the 2005 season and hadn’t reached the conference championship since 1991. In fact, the franchise had more name changes than playoff wins since 2006. This history of futility fueled skepticism about a quick turnaround.
However, safety Jeremy Chinn remains optimistic. “At some point I’m sure people will start believing in us,” he said. “It is the way that we come into work every single day, the guys in this building, the people in this building, the way we show up to work, people can say whatever they want outside. We know who we have in here and who we are.”
Another safety, Jeremy Reaves, who has been with the organization since 2018, emphasized that the Commanders aren’t driven by external doubts. “Outside noise can be a false narrative,” he said. “When you have that confidence within that’s what transcends everybody in the building. … Everybody just had that belief. There was no false motivation from external factors.”
The Commanders’ playoff journey has been nothing short of thrilling. They upset Tampa Bay 23-20 in the first round with a last-second field goal and then defeated Detroit 45-31 in a raucous Ford Field. Washington has won seven consecutive games, with five of those victories coming on the last play of the game or its final play from scrimmage.
Much of this success can be attributed to Daniels, who has thrown a combined 29 touchdown passes in the regular season and playoffs. In two postseason games, he’s thrown four touchdown passes and no interceptions, boasting an NFL-best 86.8 quarterback rating in the postseason. Daniels is now aiming to become the first rookie quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl, a feat that has eluded five others who lost in the conference championship.
Quinn praised Daniels’ composure, saying, “He’s got rare, in the moment skills that have allowed us to be into this spot. When it’s mental chaos going down and two-minutes, in these tight moments where it could feel that tight, he’s got the experience of somebody that’s played a lot more football than a first year player. But we don’t get into the historical stuff, man. It’s just how do we get down this weekend?”
For Washington, reaching this point is about overcoming nearly three decades of futility. From 1992 through 2023, the franchise owned the NFL’s fourth-worst winning percentage. But in Quinn’s first meeting with the players last spring, receiver Terry McLaurin recalled Quinn telling them, “If you’re a dog-ass competitor this is the place for you.” McLaurin, with the team since 2019, said, “I sat up in my seat and smiled. That’s what I’ve been itching for.”
Despite having proven their doubters wrong with their performance this season, the Commanders remain focused. “Nobody is celebrating,” McLaurin said. “The job is not done.”
Originally Written by: John Keim
