All good things must come to an end.
The Washington Commanders' incredible 2024 concluded with defeat at the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Although disappointing for fans dreaming of a Super Bowl berth, that doesn't detract from what a sensational accomplishment it was for head coach Dan Quinn's squad to get themselves to this point.
This was a complete teardown during the offseason. Everything from the top down received a significant makeover. The franchise looked unrecognizable from the operation Dan Snyder ran into the ground. This raised professionalism and intrigue, but the Commanders were in wait-and-see mode until further notice.
What happened next was beyond the expectations of almost everybody.
The Commanders went on a fairytale run during the regular season. They won 12 games and secured the sixth spot in the NFC's playoff seeding. But the culture shift within the locker room meant that wouldn't suffice.
Washington had bigger ambitions. They wanted to make their presence felt in the postseason. Despite being underdogs at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they dug deep in the face of adversity to come through in the clutch en route to a memorable Wild Card triumph.
Things got even better after that. The Commanders turned in a dazzling display to beat the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions. Nobody thought this was possible, but the belief in the building never wavered.
They fell short to the Eagles, which is no disgrace. It was a valiant effort, but the cards stacked against them were too much to overcome. This will sting for a while, but putting this loss in the correct context is key for everyone associated with the organization.
Nobody expected the Commanders to get this far. They are way ahead of schedule and have a promising future. They are gaining national media attention for the right reasons and will be an attractive destination for free agents. General manager Adam Peters also has almost $100 million in available salary-cap space and seven draft selections to strengthen the ranks.
They also have Jayden Daniels.
The rookie quarterback oozes franchise-caliber credentials under center. He's someone the Commanders can feel confident about building around. Once the weapons and offensive line improve, Daniels is only going to flourish further. That's a troubling thought for defensive coordinators around the league.
They also have Quinn leading the charge.
His experience and willingness to prioritize relationship-building had the desired effect. Everyone was pulling in the same direction with a clear purpose from start to finish. Quinn was the right man for the job and the Commanders are in safe hands moving forward.
There were so many memorable moments throughout the best campaign in decades for Washington. From the primetime win over the Cincinnati Bengals to the Hail Mary miracle, beating the Philadelphia Eagles, the playoff victories, and almost everything in between, fans could scarcely believe what was unfolding in front of their eyes.
It was a tremendous start to this exciting project designed to get Washington back to the NFL's perennial powerhouses. Even so, getting complacent is not an option for those in power this offseason.
The Commanders must strike with conviction to land their preferred targets and have another strong draft. If Peters can accomplish this, another bold playoff bid won't be too far behind in 2025.
Losing is never easy to handle. But looking at the bigger picture should soothe Commanders fans. After all, this is just the start of their journey.
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.