Fans certainly don't want to hear that right now. Being so close to the Super Bowl, it's obviously painful to lose, especially to a divisional rival. But the Washington Commanders' season is still a big success, and the 55-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game won't alter that.
Conversely, it's a necessary first step for a new championship window. Losing hurts, but it's part of a long-term process that's just getting started and was accelerated by a successful performance.
The big questions the Commanders had for 2024 were successfully responded to. The new ownership group is obviously better, Adam Peters should have won the executive of the year award, Dan Quinn showed he is a capable leader. More than anything, Jayden Daniels put himself in position to be considered the most valuable player in the NFC.
Making a playoff run is an impactful step for the future, even though the 2024 season ends with some kind of disappointment.
"Culture for a group is all about how they do business together, because it has to be an everyday thing," Dan Quinn said during the season. "Environment is different from culture. Like, I'm upbeat by nature, and if you're around here, you'll feel an energy in people, and that's how I live. I am positive. But that doesn't make it your culture. The culture is the way you do everything together."
.@JayD__5 hit paydirt
📺 #WASvsPHI FOX pic.twitter.com/sO7x5sR8Qb— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 26, 2025
Future
Being successful in 2024 doesn't necessarily mean the team will have a great season next year. Teams change drastically from year to year, and the Commanders certainly overachieved this season.
Nonetheless, the window is open because the Commanders are in a great roster-building position. The team enters the offseason with $87.58 million in salary cap space, and Daniels has three years left on his rookie contract—plus a not cheap, but manageable fifth-year option for 2028.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin will probably demand a contract extension, but he's proven his worth as a legit wide receiver one. Defensive investments will be necessary (you won't win a Championship Game allowing 50+ points), but there's plenty of capital to make it happen. Maybe the defense won't be good, but it could be good enough not to be on the offense's way.
On Sunday, the Commanders' loss was full of self-inflicted mistakes, including multiple fumbles. Next year, if the Commanders get there again, the experience of what happened in 2024— both in the wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, and also in the loss to the Eagles— will be a major part of the character building blocks of the roster.
It's painful, but it's the first step of a long-term process. And this is the exact place where any NFL franchise wants to be in.
