The Washington Commanders have exceeded expectations by making the playoffs. However, they don't want the journey to finish just yet.
Dan Quinn wants this incredible run to continue. The head coach preached the need to find the right resolve and overcome adversity on the road. He's seen enough fighting qualities in his squad to suggest they can make a game of this one at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The NFC South champions have the home-field advantage and ended the season in good form. They racked up six wins from their last seven games to unseat the Atlanta Falcons atop the division.
That's something the Commanders also managed to accomplish. They didn't win their division thanks in no small part to the Philadelphia Eagles' impressive campaign. Even so, they won five straight down the stretch to cement their place in the postseason with one game to spare as the sixth seed.
Quinn has the Commanders way ahead of schedule. But the culture shifts across the organization and their proven credentials to come through in the clutch dictates they'll approach this with the same professionalism and purpose.
The stakes are higher and the margin for error diminishes significantly in the knockout rounds. Who handles the pressure cooker with more composure is going to win.
That's what playoff football is all about. Staying calm amid the chaos.
Commanders vs. Buccaneers game details
- Date: Sunday, January 15
- Time: 8.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium
- TV channel: NBC
The Commanders and Buccaneers have faced 26 times throughout NFL history. The series is tied 13-13 heading into their crunch Wild Card encounter at Raymond James Stadium.
Washington has won three of the last five meetings between the two NFC clubs. That might not count for much in the grand scheme of things, especially considering the vast changes made by the Commanders during a memorable offseason for the franchise.
This is not the first time Washington and Tampa Bay have met this season. They locked horns in Week 1, where the Buccaneers' prevailed comfortably by a 37-20 margin.
However, this is not the same Commanders' squad anymore — something that was acknowledged by head coach Todd Bowles during his media availability this week.
Who are the announcers for Commanders vs. Buccaneers?
The playoff contest between the Commanders and Buccaneers is getting the primetime treatment to further whet the appetite. It'll be the Sunday Night Football showcase on NBC with the entire NFL audience watching intently.
Mike Tirico will be handling play-by-play duties at Raymond James Stadium. Cris Collinsworth is on hand to provide expert analysis of the big moments as they happen.
Melissa Starks is the sideline reporter. She'll be keeping everyone up to date with any unfortunate injuries and getting interviews with the two head coaches at different stages.
Who is the referee for Commanders vs. Buccaneers?
Craig Wrolstad and his officiating crew will be in charge of the game. Let's hope the contest has no controversial moments, they can keep cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Mike Evans on an even keel, and the Commanders can dig deep to continue their fairytale campaign into the divisional round.