The Washington Commanders moved from one of the NFL’s worst clubs to one of the league’s hottest teams in just one season.
After years of instability, controversy, and losing under Dan Snyder’s ownership, the historic NFL franchise has pulled off one of the league’s most unlikely turnarounds this season, with 14 victories and a return to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years. Washington has been one of the best stories in the NFL in 2024, with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels already distinguishing himself as the next young must-see signal caller, proving time and again that he has a calmness and clutch gene that’s
Extremely rare. Daniels has guided the Commanders to six fourth-quarter comeback wins in the last few minutes of the game. Despite entering a hostile environment in Detroit on Saturday to face the No.1 seed Lions in the NFC divisional round, Daniels and the Commanders pulled off possibly the biggest upset of the NFL season, defeating 45-31 and advancing to the NFC Championship.
In what was expected to be a rebuilding year, Washington is now one game away from the Super Bowl. The Commanders will have to defeat a familiar adversary, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the road if they are to keep the magic going and reach the Super Bowl.
During the regular season, Washington split two games against their NFC East foe. On their road trip to Lincoln Financial Field on November 18, the Eagles crushed the Commanders in a 26-18 game that appeared much closer than it was.The Eagles defense was able to upset Daniels and Washington’s explosive offense, limiting them to 264 yards of total offense, converting only 3-of-12 on third downs, and recording three sacks and an interception.
The Commanders’ defense couldn’t stop Saquon Barkley, who finished with 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
However, when Philadelphia came to D.C. on December 22, Washington eked out a 33-30 victory despite Daniels and the Commanders offense being frightened by the Eagles defense. Washington’s offense committed five turnovers, including three fumbles and two interceptions thrown by Daniels. If Jalen Hurts hadn’t left the game with a concussion in the first quarter, the outcome could have been different.
Still, given their knowledge with their opponent and the Commanders’ ability to play as effectively as any team in the playoffs, Washington has a good chance of pulling off the upset on Sunday and reaching the S
Teams does not bode well for Washington. Shawn Hochuli’s crew penalized the Commanders nine times in their Week 15 game against the Saints and suddenly froze the clock for four seconds at the conclusion of regulation, giving New Orleans a chance to win. The NFL accepted the error, and Washington won, but the situation remains problematic.
Even more concerning for the Commanders is Hochuli’s history with the Eagles. Since Nick Sirianni took over as head coach in Philadelphia, the Eagles have gone 6-0 when Hochuli officiated.
To pull off another upset and proceed to the
uper Bowl.
However, on Monday, the NFL confirmed the referees for the NFC Championship game and their track record with both Super Bowl.
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