Nobody gave the Washington Commanders a shot at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
They'd lost two games to begin the season. They were missing key men on both sides of the football. Quarterback Jayden Daniels watched from the sidelines after suffering another dislocated elbow — his second in as many seasons.
But everyone was so focused on what the Commanders don't have right now that everyone forgot what they do possess.
Commanders showed the fight Dan Quinn needed to stun the Seahawks
Heart. And lots of it.
The energy and urgency were evident right from the outset. The Commanders were not going to roll over against the defending Super Bowl champions. The adverse weather only strengthened their collective will, and the Seahawks quickly learned they had a real fight on their hands.
Slowly, belief returned. The Commanders started doing the things well that they didn't over the first two weeks. The crowd got into it at Northwest Stadium, and a pick-six from second-year linebacker Kain Medrano in the fourth quarter was the gap they needed for a priceless upset.
And the Commanders are no longer down and out.
It's just one win, of course. But 1-2 looks a whole lot better than 0-3. And this should make their flight to London a lot more comfortable for good measure.
Things were threatening to spiral, and the Seahawks were probably the last team Washington wanted to see. But you learn a lot about a team when their backs are against the wall, and the Commanders' response was nothing short of exceptional.
Commanders' upset win could be the springboard for future success
Given how many key men were missing, with a couple more also going out during the game, it speaks volumes about the culture head coach Dan Quinn has built.
Quinn acknowledged that things weren't fully clicking. However, the coach was clearly thrilled by his players' never-say-die attitude, as they picked themselves up off the canvas and struck a knockout blow that got the NFL's attention.
“It wasn’t perfect by any stretch … but I think it shows some of the resolve. … For the guys that are stepping in and being able to deliver, that’s a big deal.”
When a team is struggling, all fans want to see is a bit of fight. It would have been easy for the Commanders to accept their fate against a legitimate playoff contender. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and played up to their competition.
Oh, and turning the football over for the first time this season also helped.
This is what the Commanders can do if they play sound, complementary football for four quarters. They were not playing with a full deck, but they made it work. And if the same trend continues when Washington takes on the Indianapolis Colts next weekend, there is a clear path to being .500 through the first month of the campaign.
That seemed almost inconceivable this time last week.
Now, it's entirely possible.
This must have been heart-warming for Quinn to see. He can only do so much, but to see his players all pulling in the same direction against high-class opposition was pleasing.
It's now vital they use this as a springboard for bigger and better things moving forward.
Because if they can, the Commanders might not be an also-ran after all.
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