Bye-week results provide crystal clear playoff clarity for Commanders

Dan Quinn and his players got the chance to put their feet up in Week 14. The Washington Commanders embarked on a grueling slog of 13 straight games before the bye week. Getting the chance to rest, reflect, and recuperate before the final four regular-season contests of 2024 is a huge positive in the team's quest for postseason football.

The Commanders had their eye on some crucial games with implications attached. They got an early boost courtesy of the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football, who disposed of the Green Bay Packers to leave Washington just one game back of the sixth seed upon their return to a competitive setting.

Plenty of teams still fancy their chances of unseating the Commanders and locking up the seventh spot. Washington was always going to hold onto the position regardless of how the results unfolded. This was thanks in no small part to their dominant performance against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium last weekend before the team's extended rest period.

Switching off is hard to do when the playoffs are at stake. Nobody expected the Commanders to be in this position after so many changes throughout general manager Adam Peters' first offseason at the helm. Now that they are, everyone within the organization won't want their hard work going to waste at the business end of the campaign.

Commanders must focus on themselves with growing playoff danger looming

They found out a little more about what is needed when players and staff return in Week 15 at the New Orleans Saints. Some results went in their favor. Others raised urgency to hit the ground running upon their return to competitive action.

The most alarming result came courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams, who derailed the Buffalo Bills' momentum with a phenomenal offensive performance on home soil. This moved them within one game of the Commanders at 7-6. Unless someone else goes on a memorable run to conclude the campaign, this is Washington's biggest danger by a considerable margin.

Los Angeles has its sights set on winning the NFC West, although they remain behind the Seattle Seahawks after they disposed of the Arizona Cardinals. The Atlanta Falcons lost the top spot in the NFC South with a road beatdown to the Minnesota Vikings, leaving them two games back unless they wrestle back divisional control from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quinn and his players have destiny in their hands. If they take care of business over the final four regular-season games, they'll be in the postseason. Looking over their shoulders isn't going to do them any favors. Relying on results elsewhere normally comes with grave consequences attached.

It seems like three teams are legitimately vying for two spots. Things could change quickly, but the Commanders, Packers, and Rams look like the strongest candidates for postseason involvement right now.

Hopefully, the Commanders will be well-rested and rejuvenated after finally getting a break from football activities. They have nothing to fear down the stretch aside from the Philadelphia Eagles. It'll be interesting to see how this group copes with pressure with the Rams breathing down their neck.

It's a time for big characters and clutch performances. Nothing else will do.

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