The Washington Commanders are having a massive Cinderella season in 2024, and it’s not over yet. So far, they’ve won more games this season than any other season since their 1991 Super Bowl victory. They look to continue their success on the road this Sunday when they face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Finacial Field, but there is one major thing working against them.
NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha says the Commanders’ biggest weakness is a lack of experience.
We’re past the point where we can keep underestimating the Commanders. This team went 12-5, won a wild-card game in Tampa Bay and just knocked off the top-seeded Lions in Detroit. They obviously have the talent, as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has delivered time and again for this team. The question moving into the next round is how they deal with the pressure that comes with being one game away from playing in the Super Bowl. Remember, this franchise hasn’t been in this position since the 1991 season. The Commanders also will be facing the Eagles, a team that narrowly lost to Kansas City in the Super Bowl just two years ago and still has several players who appeared in that game on this squad. Even though Washington is facing a division rival, this is an entirely different level that this team is moving on to next week. The Commanders do have six starters who have played in a championship game (including tight end Zach Ertz, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and linebacker Bobby Wagner). That also leaves 16 other players on offense and defense who haven’t, along with kicker Zane Gonzalez. Head coach Dan Quinn obviously understands the environment that will come with next week, as he led the Atlanta Falcons to Super Bowl LI. He’s done a masterful job melding young talents with veteran additions to create a winning culture in Washington in one season. However, there’s a reason why players and coaches often say it’s tougher to win in the championship round than the actual Super Bowl. There’s just something different about being that close to realizing a dream.
Certainly, there is a lack of experience among many of the Commanders’ players with regard to postseason experience. However, they have had the toughest road to get to this point, and they’re still here. Traveling to Tampa wasn’t nearly as difficult as the trip to Detroit, and look how both of those games ended up.
The Commanders split the season with the Philadelphia Eagles, 1-1, and you can be sure they won’t be holding back this Sunday when the two teams meet in the NFC Championship.