My guess going into Saturday night was that Washington would fight bravely and come up just short of beating the Lions, but it was clear early in the game that the Commanders were the looser, freer bunch. All season long, Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels have set a tone for this team, possessing a championship-caliber equanimity that is capable of covering up any perceived holes. By no means is this a perfect roster, but then again, the 2001 Patriots, 2011 Giants, 2020 Buccaneers and other squads overcame similar limitations to win it all, thanks to their fearless approaches, low-pulse quarterbacks and even-keeled coaching. Who’s to say this group can’t beat the Eagles, get to the big game and pull off a similar triumph? These Commanders have become the NFL’s new darlings, with Daniels as the leading man, and it should stun no one at this point if he becomes the first rookie QB to start in a Super Bowl. A new generation of Washington football has arrived, and it’s hard to see this team dropping from the ranks of contenders anytime soon, even if the Commanders can’t get to the top of the mountain this season.