Updated Commanders playoff picture heading into Week 13 clash with Titans

It looked for a long time as if the Washington Commanders were a shoo-in to make the playoffs after a remarkable start to the campaign under head coach Dan Quinn. That's not the case anymore.

The Commanders have lost their last three games. Their free-flowing, efficient offense has been replaced with hesitancy and no consistent execution. The offensive line isn't performing to the level expected. There remain deficiencies in coverage despite some defensive improvements in recent weeks.

This is a critical period for Quinn and his squad. They are running out of time to cement their status among the postseason challengers. Winning the NFC East seems highly unlikely given how the Philadelphia Eagles are performing. That leaves the Commanders settling for a wildcard berth at best.

The gap is tightening. Washington is lucky it had a cushion on fellow playoff hopefuls before this concerning slump. Quinn needs to find answers quickly because the margin for error is gone.

Let's take a look at how things stand and the potential implications moving forward.

Commanders' playoff status hanging by a thread entering Week 13

NFC Playoff Standings

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)

In the hunt:

• Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
• San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
• New Orleans Saints (4-7)
• Chicago Bears (4-7)
• Dallas Cowboys (4-7)

The Commanders hold the seventh seed, which is probably the best they can hope for. The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers look cemented in their respective spots. Those above them will be division winners with lesser records from the NFC West and NFC South. That leaves one spot remaining.

Washington barely has its destiny within their grasp. The Arizona Cardinals are breathing down their neck and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers haven't completely given up the chase just yet. It's a fine-margin situation with plenty of twists to come, so nothing but a return to the form earlier in the campaign will do.

The fact Washington has a fighting chance of making the postseason in Year 1 under Quinn is a testament to how things came together quicker than anticipated. That raised expectations, so there would be a tinge of disappointment among some fans if they weren't involved in the knockout rounds this season.

All hope is not lost. The Commanders still have some winnable games upcoming. Their bye week comes at a good time for a strong finish. Whether Quinn can galvanize his troops remains to be seen, but they are still very much in the thick of things.

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