Riggo Drills led the Washington Commanders back to the playoffs.
Fueled by four long second-half drives to choke the Atlanta Falcons’ hopes, the Commanders rallied from a 10-point deficit to reach the postseason. Washington (11-5) won its fourth straight game via a historic path carved by John Riggins en route to the franchise’s 1983 Super Bowl victory. They just hogged the ball for seven minutes at a time.
The crowd loved the nostalgia as none of the 63,480 left early, not even the few Falcons fans hoping for a playoff bid themselves. A 7-2 home season after recent years of one or no wins has transformed Northwest Stadium into must-see events. While Washington won’t likely host a postseason game, it returned the home dominance lacking since the Super Bowl era that ended 33 years ago at RFK Stadium.
The first playoff-clinching season since 2020, when they won the putrid NFC East at 7-9, saw heart-thumping games nearly each week. From a Hail Mary that beat Chicago to a goal-line stand to take down New Orleans to beating Atlanta in the final moments, last-second heroics have become a norm for Washington.
Coach Dan Quinn was right during the team’s three-game losing streak at midseason that threatened to derail a 7-2 team. He said the team needed to learn to win from those bitter losses to solid teams. Sure enough, steely moments have been the difference over the past month.
“One of the things I admire about them is they’re never out of the fight,” Quinn said.
Of course, it was all about quarterback Jayden Daniels. The rookie passer threw three touchdowns, but his running came through in overtime. Daniels carried six times on the final drive, including a 16-yarder on third down. He carried three straight times before throwing a deciding two-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz that Daniels knew was the winner before the ball left his hand.
This year’s team bonding started in the spring opening practices, with a Parris Island foot drill that continues even now. It was a heart-thumping moment that showed new coaches wanted something different.
Indeed, it was a different Commanders team from 2023 that lost its last eight games. The roster flipped 60 percent by opening day, the most since World War II vets returned in 1945, and injuries, trades and cuts have driven that turnover to nearly 80 percent. Only a dozen players remain from last season.
But the newcomers that also included a “Team of Rivals” among coaches felt something special from incoming veterans Ertz, Bobby Wagner and Austin Ekeler. They learned to play as a team from these veterans.
And, a rookie quarterback developed into Washington’s best passer since perhaps Sonny Jurgensen in the 1960s. Shrugging off an early-season rib injury, Daniels improved weekly while collecting 10 Rookie Offensive Player of the Week belts (and counting). He won five games with last-second touchdowns. Daniels carried the team on his back when injuries decimated the running game and offensive line.
Think Chicago still thinks it was right to take Caleb Williams over Daniels with the No. 1 overall pick last spring?
Daniels gives the team a chance even when it’s outplayed. With now just a season-ender in Dallas before beginning the postseason, Washington has earned the dangerous title among NFC contenders. Beating Philadelphia on Dec. 23 was a signature win. Now it’s readying to carve up another contender.
It just comes down to who makes the last play. So far it has been Washington.