The Washington Commanders’ season ended this past Sunday with a crushing 55-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. However, this team has a lot to be proud of this past year. After finishing 4-13 in 2023, the Commanders improved significantly thanks to new owners and leadership, along with a star rookie quarterback leading a revamped offense. Washington won 11 or more games in a season for the first time since 1991, as they finished 12-5. The Commanders also won two playoff games, marking the first time the franchise won a playoff game in 19 years. Washington also made it to the conference championship round for the first time in 33 years. Let’s take a look back at what went right for the Commanders this season.
The 2024 Washington Commanders Season Was a Success
New Owners and Coaches Change Culture
The once-storied franchise suffered greatly for 23 years under former owner Dan Snyder. However, that all changed when the team was sold to the ownership group of Josh Harris, Mitchell Rales, and Magic Johnson in 2023. Together, the new owners made plenty of leadership moves last offseason, including the hiring of Adam Peters as general manager. The team also hired Dan Quinn as head coach, Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, and Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator.
This past season, Harris, Quinn, and company showed off a winning culture this team had not seen in such a long time. One notable factor of Quinn is that he is not afraid to go for it on fourth down. In 2024, the Commanders led the NFL with an 87-percent fourth-down conversion rate. This showed how aggressive Washington was on fourth down, even when other teams would punt. Quinn is now a finalist for AP NFL Coach of the Year.
Jayden Daniels Leads the Way
Taken No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went on to set many records this season. The LSU alum showed off his rocket arm and electric mobility, looking to be the next Commanders franchise quarterback. Daniels finished the regular season with 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He also set an NFL record with a rookie completion percentage of 69 percent. Showing off his speed, Daniels rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns. His 891 rushing yards are the most by a rookie quarterback since Andrew Luck in 2012.
Daniels was also remarkably clutch for the Commanders this season. Back on October 27th, Daniels launched a 52-yard Hail Mary pass that was tipped and caught by Noah Brown for a game-winning touchdown over the Chicago Bears. The rookie also led a double-digit comeback win over the Eagles at home on December 22nd. One week later, he led a game-winning drive in overtime for a win over the Atlanta Falcons. That victory clinched a playoff berth for Washington. In the Wild Card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daniels led another clutch drive which resulted in a Zane Gonzalez game-winning field goal.
Scary Terry Finally Gets the Spotlight
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had been an underrated player for his first five years in the NFL. However, that all changed when McLaurin finally found himself a franchise quarterback to catch passes from in 2024. The veteran receiver set a team record with 13 touchdown catches, the most he’s scored in a single season. His performance this past year earned him second-team All-Pro honors.
Defense Improves from Previous Year
Washington had the 32nd-ranked defense in the NFL back in 2023. However, the defense went from dead last to 13th this season, with some pros and cons. The Commanders’ pass defense was strong as it ranked third in the NFL, allowing 189.8 yards per game. The team also had a couple second-team All-Pro linebackers in Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. Wagner finished with 132 tackles and two sacks in the regular season, while Luvu had 99 tackles and eight sacks. Jeremy Chinn was right behind Wagner with 117 tackles, while Dante Fowler Jr. led the Commanders with 10.5 sacks. Finally, rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil had a stellar season with 93 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Main Image: Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports
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