Commanders run out of magic against Philadelphia
To the dismay of many Washington fans throughout the DMV, the Commanders fell 55-23 to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon. Although many consider the season to have ended on a sour note, the Commanders newfound success to a franchise that had been plagued by ownership issues, subpar coaching, and a supposedly ‘cursed’ stadium.
A Historic Season
Washington earned its highest regular season win total since 1991, the last time the franchise won the Super Bowl. Since that season, the Commanders have only cracked the double digit win threshold four times, with the fourth being this current season. The bounce back from 4-13 and the second overall pick to 14-6 and an NFC Championship appearance is no small feat, proving that Washington found its missing piece in rookie Quarterback Jayden Daniels. The young phenom threw for 3,569 yards in the regular season and rushed for another 891. For reference, last year’s Rookie of the Year Winner (CJ Stroud) passed for 4,108 yards and rushed for 167 in the regular season. Daniels also outscored Stroud with 31 total touchdowns in comparison to Stroud’s 26.
Killer Turnovers
Saquon Barkley certainly put on a show on the ground against the Commanders defense, but he wasn't the sole reason Washington lost. Washington's offense combined for four turnovers and two missed fourth-down conversions. 3 lost fumbles and an interception crushed DC's hopes at a title, but are bizarre when considering prior games this season. The Commanders lost 7 fumbles and threw 9 interceptions during the entire 2024 regular season, which is a total of 16 (5 of which came in Washington’s second regular season game against Philadelphia). Last week alone, Washington committed 4 turnovers. Philadelphia is undoubtably one of the best teams in the NFL, but they were not 32 points better than Washington. Ironically, the Commanders lost the game the same way they beat the Lions - by exploiting costly mistakes.
A Young Team
This Commanders team did not have the postseason experience that every other conference championship team did. The Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs have all been to a Championship round in the last 3 years. Washington hasn’t gone that far since 1991. A roster comprised of a rookie QB and 31 players set to become free agents in the offseason isn’t built to last, but Adam Peters (the General Manager) and Dan Quinn (the Head Coach) hope to have the blueprint to future success.
What’s Next?
Washington will have over $91 million in cap space for the 2025-2026 season, the third most in the NFL. The organization will also have a First, Second, Third, Fifth, and three Seventh round draft picks for this coming April. The future is bright in Washington, and the city has a path to rebuilding RFK Stadium on Capitol Hill.
“I think the commanders exceeded expectations, but now in the offseason they need to solidify the roster in a few ways. But either way, I’m excited for the future, because Jayden Daniels is him.” - Mr. Morse, an avid Commanders fan
I am proud to see all the things Adam Peters has done to this franchise, bringing in Jayden Daniels and all the new coaches that have set up a bright future for the commanders. - Sebastian Ruggeri ‘26
