The Washington Commanders advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years after engineering a stunning 45-31 victory over the Detroit Lions last weekend.
The win marks an incredible turnaround for a franchise which spent many years struggling on and off the field.
While improvement in 2024 was expected, few predicted the Commanders would reach the playoffs, let alone achieve postseason success.
DAZN News examines the pivotal moments which revived the Commanders’ fortunes.
Ownership Change
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Mired in controversy under former owner Dan Snyder, the Commanders’ fan base had grown disillusioned and impatient – desperate for the team to achieve the success they enjoyed between 1983 and 1992 when they won three Super Bowls.
Renewed hope came in the form of Josh Harris, who led a consortium in acquiring the Commanders for $6.05 billion in 2023.
Harris immediately set about proving his approach would be markedly different from Snyder’s. He greeted fans at training camp and talked candidly about how changing the culture was a priority.
Fans and players welcomed the ownership change. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin said, “There’s an enthusiasm around here. There’s a lot of optimism for the future.
“Everyone gets to get back to focusing on what’s on the field instead of worrying about what could be going on off the field.”
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen remarked upon how the change in ownership invigorated the team’s supporters, declaring, “I’ve waited seven years to see the fan base like this.”
Drafting Jayden Daniels
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The Commanders held the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after falling to a 4-13 record the year prior.
Acquiring dual-threat LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with that pick proved to be a masterstroke, and he wasted no time in showing what he is capable of.
Daniels finished the regular season with 25 touchdowns and only nine interceptions and broke NFL rookie quarterback records for rushing yards (891) and completion percentage (69%).
As impressive as his performances were in helping the Commanders to a 12-5 record in the regular season, Daniels’ poise under pressure in the playoffs truly sets him apart.
In the Commanders’ 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also led his team in rushing yards, becoming the first rookie to lead his team in passing and rushing in a playoff win.
Daniels’ performance in the Commanders’ surprise 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the Divisional round was even more impressive, as he completed 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, adding 51 rushing yards.
Daniels's presence has helped the team to its best season in decades and set it up for success for many years.
Coaching Changes
Dan Quinn
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Daniels has understandably earned the headlines for improving the Commanders’ fortunes, but the importance of Dan Quinn’s appointment as head coach should not be overlooked.
Quinn acquired a reputation as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL after becoming the architect of the legendary Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense, which led the league in points allowed, yards allowed, and takeaways.
After a successful stint as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator, Quinn was named head coach of the ailing Commanders’ team.
The rapid improvement of the Commanders’ defensive unit under Quinn has been staggering. In 2023, the team allowed a league-worst 262.2 passing yards per game. In 2024, they finished 3rd, surrendering only 189.5 passing yards per game.
The five turnovers forced by the Commanders’ defense in their win over the Lions were further evidence of how far the unit had come under Quinn.
There’s every reason to believe this unit could improve even further if talented rookies like defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and cornerback Mike Sainristil reach their potential.
Kliff Kingsbury
Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Kliff Kingsbury’s coaching career was in flux after an unsuccessful stint as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals between 2019 and 2022.
After a short spell as the senior offensive analyst at USC, Kingsbury was hired by Quinn to serve as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator.
Kingsbury has transformed the Washington offense from a unit that ranked 24th in yards and 23rd in points in 2023 into one that finished seventh and fifth in 2024.
The relationship between Daniels and Kingsbury has been crucial to the Commanders' success in 2024, and it’s a point not lost on Daniels:
“He’s meant a lot, obviously, for my development and my growth from the day I stepped foot here to this point now,” Daniels said of Kingsbury. “Just to be able to see and get to learn the type of person Kliff is on and off the field, it’s only helped our relationship grow.”
Kingsbury’s success in 2024 has led to suggestions he may leave for a head coaching role elsewhere, but it has been reported that he may yet stay. Whether he stays or leaves, he’s helped lay the foundations for what should be a dynamic offense for years to come.
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