The Washington Commanders sit at 10-5 as we approach their Week 17 clash against the Atlanta Falcons with playoffs well within their grasp.
Having been consistent through Jayden Daniels' first NFL season, the Commanders have a chance to clinch their playoff spot in Year 1 of the new regime, and that would be a big feather in the cap of Dan Quinn and Co.
Such is the situation for Washington, it could clinch a playoff spot before a snap is played on Sunday Night Football if the Carolina Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the early window of Week 17.
But if Baker Mayfield and Co. take care of business, then a win over the Falcons would secure playoff football for Washington.
“You still prepared the same way, it's just another game at the end of the day,” Daniels said. “Everybody else can talk about the implications of what comes with this game and the magnitude of it, but for us, it's like hey we're just going out there, we're playing Atlanta Falcons, they're fighting for something, we're fighting for something, at the end of the day, you got to go out there and earn it.”
So it's business as usual for Daniels as the playoffs approach and while it would be nice for the Commanders to get some help if the Panthers can slay the Buccaneers, this team seems more content with going out and clinching the playoffs for themselves.
The Commanders have had a good first season under Quinn and Daniels, with playoff football the icing on the cake and signaling that they're on the right track in their development.
They might get help from the Panthers, they might not. But it doesn't seem to bother the Commanders - they're ready for all the smoke that comes with what could be a big Week 17 for the organization.
