The Washington Commanders are in the playoffs for the first time in four years, after beating the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 on Sunday night.
It was fitting closure for a season that's been nothing short of magical.
JAYDEN DANIELS AND ZACH ERTZ CALLED GAME IN OT 😤
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2024
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/9j6amoE8sr
There may not have been a better way to script the Commanders clinching their postseason berth than with Jayden Daniels' overtime touchdown pass to Zach Ertz, which gave Washington its first 11-win season since 1991. All season long the Commanders have been magnets for cinematic finishes, and Sunday night was no different.
It was clear early on in the year that something special might be brewing in D.C. The first sign may have been in Week 3, when the Commanders beat the Cincinnati Bengals 38-33 on Monday night for their second of what would become four straight wins. Still, even after starting 5-2, they didn't have a signature moment in the clutch quite yet.
That changed in Week 8, when Daniels' Hail Mary pass was caught by Noah Brown to beat the Chicago Bears at home. In that moment, the energy in Landover, Md. seemed to shift. After 25 years of futility and humiliation under Dan Snyder's ownership, Washington was officially allowed to believe it could have good things again.
Of course, there would be growing pains, and the Commanders were also on the wrong side of some thrillers -- notably against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. The Cowboys loss marked their third in a row after starting 7-2, and provided a reality check for a team whose ahead-of-schedule performance almost felt too good to be true.
The Commanders were criticized for their lack of wins against quality opponents, and needed to make a statement if they were going to qualify for the playoffs. They did exactly that against the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, snapping Philly's 10-game winning streak with a last-second touchdown to Jamison Crowder.
That led Washington to its win-and-in position against Atlanta, and after falling behind 17-7 at the half, Daniels and the Commanders delivered again with their backs against the wall. Daniels overcame five sacks and a first-half interception to throw for three touchdowns and 227 yards while rushing for another 127, all culminating in the overtime dime to Ertz.
The journey is by no means over yet, but for Washington, Sunday night's win had a movie climax type of feel to it. No matter how the Commanders' 2024 season ends, it will go down in history as a special one.
