Terry McLaurin is an alpha in every sense of the term. He's revered by his teammates and an integral part of the Washington Commanders' future. It didn't take long for the wide receiver to inspire during their Wild Card round success at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McLaurin was influential on the field as expected. He brought in a sensational deep ball early on to set the tone. When the time came for big plays down the stretch, there was nobody rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels trusted more.
The former third-round pick out of Ohio State's touchdown grab late in the contest gave the Commanders a fighting chance. McLaurin eventually finished with seven receptions from 10 targets for 89 receiving yards and a score. His post-game embrace with Magic Johnson showed just how much this meant after experiencing almost nothing but misery under the previous regime.
Terry McLaurin motivated Commanders' teammates with inspiring pre-game speech
However, the impact McLaurin made even before a competitive down was played cannot be overstated. The wideout's pre-game speech in the tunnel was filmed and released on social media. It was a rousing rallying cry to his teammates — one that received a positive response as the Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles during the regular season.
Coworker got this video of Terry McLaurin in the tunnel pregame vs. the Eagles. Our best player since Sean Taylor. Real leader🔥 #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/wQskU7ZrBo
— jayden daniels enjoyer (@DocPainbody) January 13, 2025
This comes as no surprise. McLaurin has no problem taking the lead. He's a top professional and the model of consistency as all around him crumbled during some dark days for the franchise. He was eager to maximize the significant opportunity in front of him. Thankfully, he wasn't alone.
It wasn't perfect. The Commanders lost their battles in the trenches and the defense couldn't stop the Buccaneers more often than not. However, as has been the case throughout the season, they found a way to win.
That won't be as easy this weekend.
The Detroit Lions deservedly secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They are well rested and playing in front of their hostile home support. The Commanders have exceeded expectations to reach this point, but this represents their biggest challenge by a considerable margin.
Washington will give it everything. They are heavy underdogs are rightfully so. But this team always finds a way to dig deep and show the correct resolve when their backs are against the wall.
McLaurin is at the forefront. He's one of the league's best wideouts and a supreme leader of men. He holds himself to a high standard and demands the same from his teammates. They all follow his lead willingly, which is a testament to the esteem in which he is held.
Not many will be picking the Commanders. But with players like McLaurin leading the charge, don't count them out just yet.