The run is over for the Commanders, and whereas it was magical whereas it occurred, Washington finally bumped into the buzzsaw that was the Philadelphia Eagles within the NFC Championship Sport.
The excessive level of the postseason for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders was undoubtedly going into Ford Subject and knocking off the Detroit Lions in a large upset win, 45-31. The low level, although, was actually the NFC title sport. Although they did put up an excellent battle for a while — it was 14-12 halfway via the second quarter — the Commanders ended up shedding 55-23.
That is a fifty-plus burger put up by the Eagles, who highway Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on the bottom to victory. Barkley put up 118 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, whereas Hurts took it in 3 times himself.
It was a dominant efficiency from the Eagles, who will now be searching for revenge towards Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl 59, but it surely was a sport that actually left Commanders followers feeling hole after the whole lot their crew was capable of accomplish in 2024-25.
That does not imply this crew would not have a brilliant future, although. Daniels was clear even after the loss that he felt the Commanders deserved to be within the brilliant lights of the NFC Championship Sport,
“It’s important to go on the market and earn it. It’s important to show it. And though tonight, we did not earn it, we consider that we belong right here,” Daniels stated, in accordance with Josh Alper of Professional Soccer Discuss. “Kudos to Philly, and what they did. Heck of a crew, and good luck to them.”
Daniels is clearly the centerpiece of what the Commanders will need to do shifting ahead after his super rookie season, however there are a number of veteran free brokers on their very own roster that they will need to hold round as nicely. Constructing a crew via explosive youth and constant veteran presence is a tried and true methodology, and the Commanders could make one other run on the Tremendous Bowl in 2025 if they carry again these three veteran glue items.
Bobby Wagner is the defensive chief the Commanders want
Bobby Wagner has been enjoying NLF soccer for a very long time, however he nonetheless has the products and greater than something, he is a veteran defensive chief the Commanders ought to need to hold round.
Wagner led the crew in tackles this season with 132. He additionally notched two sacks, ten tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and one pressured fumble. That is not unhealthy for a 34-year-old linebacker who the Commanders gave a one-year deal to this previous offseason.
Wagner would completely be value one other yr if he needs to stay round this younger and ascending crew.
Zach Ertz has change into a security web for Jayden Daniels
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Even at 34 years outdated, Zach Ertz was the second-leading receiver for the Commanders this season, with 66 catches for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Six of these seven touchdowns got here after the calendar hit November, so Ertz was getting higher because the season went on. That additionally factors to the truth that as Daniels obtained extra snug as a rookie quarterback, he discovered a participant he may belief in Ertz.
If it wasn’t clear within the common season, Ertz’s efficiency within the playoffs solidified that; he caught 5 passes and a landing within the upset over the Lions after which caught 11-of-16 passes for 104 yards towards the Eagles.
The Commanders have to carry Ertz again for at the very least yet another season with a purpose to be certain that Daniels would not undergo the normal “sophomore droop.”
Regardless of being within the league since 2013, this was undoubtedly Ertz’s greatest season since his Professional Bowl-three peat as a member of the Eagles from 2017 to 2019.
Dante Fowler Jr. had a resurgence with the Commanders
Dante Fowler Jr. could demand an excellent chunk of cash as a free agent, however he’d be smart to provide the Commanders a shot to carry him again. One season after notching simply 4 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys, Fowler adopted head coach Dan Quinn to Washington and had a profession resurgence.
He led the crew in sacks with 10.5, and he additionally notched an interception, which he took again 67 yards to the home towards the Carolina Panthers.
Fowler could not have ever lived as much as his billing because the Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 3 total choose within the 2015 NFL Draft, however he has actually discovered a helpful position in Washington.