Optimism is higher than ever around the Washington Commanders after a memorable 2024 campaign. That didn't stop one NFL analyst from throwing cold water on their potential growth next time around.
Nobody expected the Commanders to reach the NFC Championship game during Dan Quinn's first season as head coach. They were a surprise most teams didn't see coming, producing some incredible highlights and performances to make the league sit up and take notice.
Adam Peters is loaded with salary-cap space and draft picks to strengthen the playing personnel this offseason. Big changes are anticipated again. With the Commanders an attractive destination following decades of decay, fans are excited about the future at long last.
Reaching significant heights in the first season was one thing. Ensuring this becomes something more sustainable is another challenge entirely.
NFL analyst believes Commanders could miss the postseason in 2025
This was a topic discussed by Conor Orr from Sports Illustrated. His bold prediction for Washington in 2025 depicted an unmitigated disaster. The analyst believes the Commanders could miss the playoffs, especially if the Dallas Cowboys get their act together under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
"The Commanders will miss the postseason. Washington rode the tailwind of an incredibly special year full of some high-variance moments (in concert with the brilliant performance of the Offensive Rookie of the Year). But there is no guarantee that the roster can gel like this again. And, it would seem, the NFC East is not going to be as uncompetitive as it was a year ago assuming the Cowboys can stay healthy."Conor Orr
There are countless examples throughout NFL history of a new regime starting better than anticipated before tailing off dramatically. Fortunately for the Commanders, they have the right people in place to ensure complacency doesn't become an issue.
Peters has been around winning franchises throughout his front-office career. He's got a great team around him working collaboratively to reach their goals. Josh Harris' ownership group harbors the same ambition, doing everything in their power to provide every possible resource.
There is continuity on the coaching staff. Quinn's supreme leadership is the driving force, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and his assistants are also sticking around. That's going to help quarterback Jayden Daniels from a stability standpoint, especially if the Commanders place more productive weapons around him as expected.
If Peters navigates the offseason successfully, the Commanders will be a trendy pick to dethrone the Philadelphia Eagles and reach the Super Bowl in 2025. They believe anything is possible with Daniels leading the charge. The enhanced locker room culture under Quinn's guidance guarantees Washington will take nothing for granted.
Allowing some time to reflect on their outstanding accomplishments is the least they deserve. After that, it's about turning the page and focusing on the new tests that await next season.
The Commanders will be hunted. They are gaining national media attention for the right reasons and have a bullseye on their back. They also have a more difficult schedule, although Washington shouldn't fear anybody with newfound momentum.
Missing the playoffs would be extremely disappointing. However, fans shouldn't be overly concerned given their scope for progress in 2025.