The Washington Commanders went further and achieved more than anyone anticipated in 2024. It was a campaign for the ages. But one NFL analyst raised alarm bells regarding potential regression from head coach Dan Quinn's squad next time around.
Adam Peters is working hard to ensure that doesn't become a reality. The general manager knows the Commanders are in win-now mode with a superstar quarterback on a rookie deal. He was aggressive in the trade market and ran it back with a lot of the squad who accomplished so much during the previous campaign. It'll be difficult to replicate, but the team is made of sterner stuff these days.
Success breeds expectations. Washington's long-suffering fanbase has been starved of both for decades. Their imagination was captured once again during a memorable run to the NFC Championship game, but keeping this up in the ever-changing NFL landscape represents a tricky proposition.
Analyst believes Commanders will fall well short of previous season's exploits in 2025
This was a sentiment echoed by Mike Clay of ESPN. The analyst highlighted several legitimate red flags that could lead to Washington's decreased fortunes in 2025. He didn't think the Commanders would get anywhere close to the 12 regular-season triumphs again, placing them at eight wins and below projections of 10.5.
"Jayden Daniels is awesome. I'm not disagreeing with that assessment. I am, however, highly concerned about the abundance of red flags signaling an upcoming regression for Washington. For starters, the Commanders finished 12-5 last year despite a +94 point differential, which is more indicative of a 10.6-win team. Second, Washington went 8-4 in one-score games. Those are two metrics which demonstrate how Dan Quinn's team performed above expectations in 2024. Throw in a defense that ranked 19th in EPA, a much tougher schedule this season that features crossovers with the AFC West and NFC North and a unit that concluded 2024 as the fifth-healthiest team in the NFL and you've got plenty of reasons to suspect a regression."Mike Clay
Clay's points are valid. The Commanders won a lot of close games last season. In some cases, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Matching that again will be testing, but there's a reason why Washington always seemed to come through in the clutch.
This team is different. Quinn instilled a mindset that brought a collective belief that anything was possible. They were never out of the fight and each player, coach, and front-office figure spurred each other on through the good times and bad. It was a special environment. And hopefully, this is just the start.
Last season quickly became a whirlwind for the Commanders. It was a rapid ascent from the football abyss into legitimate contention. Sustaining this is the new goal. But Peters has done a good job of keeping his foot on the gas without jeopardizing future financial flexibility.
It'll be interesting to see how the Commanders handle a different type of pressure. They've gone from the hunter to the hunted. They've gone from an outcast to a team with a huge target on their back. They've gone from an unserious football operation to a widely respected project in the blink of an eye.
The NFL is a fickle business. Failure can return as quickly as success arrives. It's a year-to-year league where only a select few manage to perennially contend.
Washington is hoping to add itself to that list. And this waking giant is off to a good start.
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