Reaching the playoffs was beyond the dreams of any Washington Commanders fan before the campaign. They managed to achieve this prestigious distinction and a lot more throughout a sensational first season under new head coach Dan Quinn.
The Commanders rode their luck on occasion. However, their improved cohesion, professionalism, and ability to come through in the biggest moments turned this organization from a laughingstock into a respectable outfit. This was enough to lock up a postseason berth with one game to spare.
There were still some things to figure out heading into Week 18. The Commanders had a chance to lock up the sixth seed, which they managed thanks to a last-gasp victory at the Dallas Cowboys. That left them keeping an eye on the late window slate to see where they would be traveling.
The Los Angeles Chargers chose to rest their starters. It represented a calculated risk by head coach Sean McVay, who was rewarded with a testing home fixture rather than taking on the Commanders after losing to the Seattle Seahawks.
Everything is set. Everything is rubber-stamped. Here's how the final NFC playoff seedings stand following another dramatic weekend of action to conclude the regular season.
Commanders final NFC playoff standings after Week 18
Playoff Seed | Team |
|---|---|
1. | Detroit Lions (15-2) |
2. | Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) |
3. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) |
4. | Los Angeles Rams (10-7) |
5. | Minnesota Vikings (14-3) |
6. | Washington Commanders (12-5) |
7. | Green Bay Packers (11-6) |
The Detroit Lions get a welcome bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after trouncing the Minnesota Vikings in a straight fight for the No. 1 seed. Kevin O'Connell's men won 14 games but rank just fifth, going on the road after falling at the final hurdle.
There was a flip-flop further down. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers overcame adversity to beat the New Orleans Saints and secure the third seed. The Green Bay Packers couldn't muster one final effort en route to a defeat against the Chicago Bears.
As for the Commanders? They are playing with house money. Nobody anticipated their presence in the knockout rounds. Building more momentum by winning a game or two is only going to help general manager Adam Peters acquire the right recruits this offseason.
Here's how things shake out during the wildcard round.
Confirmed NFC wildcard games after Week 18
Home Team | Visiting Team |
|---|---|
Philadelphia Eagles (2) | Green Bay Packers (7) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) | Washington Commanders (6) |
Los Angeles Rams (4) | Minnesota Vikings (5) |
The Commanders will travel down to Florida for a mouth-watering clash with the Buccaneers. They've played each other already in Week 1 when Tampa Bay emerged as comfortable victors. But as we all know, this is not the same team right now.
Quinn's men are more of a unit. They worked out the kinks that blighted their first meeting with the Buccaneers. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels emerged as a legitimate superstar capable of spearheading this team's renaissance. This clash will have a different feel entirely with higher stakes attached.
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. The Buccaneers are more seasoned in a postseason environment. However, the Commanders have shown a flair for the dramatic this season. They also know that if things are close down the stretch, Daniels can come through.
Commanders at Buccaneers game details
- Date: Sunday, January 12
- Time: 8.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium
- TV channel: NBC/Peacock
Oh, and the game has also been chosen for primetime. Just the way Daniels likes it.