The 2024 Commanders had an opportunity to do something the franchise hasn’t been able to pull off for 33 years: make it back to a Super Bowl. That clock will continue to tick after Commanders lost to the Eagles 55-23 in the NFC Championship.
It’s crushing to come this close and miss the Super Bowl, but realistically for the Commanders, winning in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds was a huge feat considering the team hadn’t managed to win a postseason game since 2006.
But that streak had nothing on the three-plus decades Washington fans are patiently waiting through to finally see this team get back to a Super Bowl. It didn’t pan out this year, but there’s reason to believe Commanders fans won’t have to wait that much longer.
Commanders exceeded expectations this year
It’s hard to know what to expect from a rookie quarterback, even when that rookie won the Heisman Trophy at LSU like Jayden Daniels did. “Impressed” isn’t a strong enough word for what Daniels did behind center for the Washington team.
The rookie threw for 3,568 yards, with 25 touchdowns against nine picks. Daniels added 148 carries for 891 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, and he did that while taking 47 sacks all season. Injuries decimated the team toward the end of the season, and specifically, losing G Sam Cosmi right before the NFC Championship did Washington zero favors. As long as Washington can do a better job of keeping Daniels upright next season, there’s no reason he can’t improve on what was already a fantastic performance in his rookie year.
The defense finished the regular season fourth in the NFL with just 3,492 yards per game compared to last season, when they finished 30th in the league with 4,568 yards. Philadelphia was able to key in on the Commanders’ defensive weaknesses in the NFC Championship win, especially with the run game (Washington allowed 232 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground) and it’s clear Washington still needs some improvement on that side of the ball to run with the big dogs in the NFL postseason. But the future looks bright for the Commanders and their combination of new leadership and young talent.
The preseason win total over/under for Washington was 6.5 wins, and the 2024 Commanders’ 12-5 regular season and two postseason wins blew that out of the water. We’ll see in 2025 if they’re able to build on this performance.
Commanders Super Bowl history
The Washington team has made it to five Super Bowls, winning three. The team’s first Super Bowl appearance ended in a 14-7 loss, when they ran into the buzz saw that was the only undefeated team in NFL history, the 1972 Dolphins. Washington got its revenge 10 years later, beating Miami 27-17 for the team’s first Super Bowl win. Washington made it back to the big game the following year, and the Oakland Raiders thrashed them to the tune of 38-9. The team’s next win came after the 1987 season, as Washington whooped the Denver Broncos 42-10 to bring home the Lombardi for a second time.
Washington’s road to its most recent Super Bowl appearance started with a 14-2 regular season finish and the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round. Washington dispatched the Falcons 24-7, advancing to beat the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship, 41-10 — a win that surely came to mind for many Commanders fans when this year’s team beat the Lions in the Divisional Round to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship.
Only five current Commanders players were even alive the last time Washington won the Super Bowl: LB Nick Bellore, TE Zach Ertz, OT Cornelius Lucas (was six months old), LB Bobby Wagner, and P Tress Way. Dan Quinn was in his junior year at Salisbury University, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was 13 years old, and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was 14 years old.
The wait continues. But hopefully Commanders fans won’t have to wait too much longer.
