Washington’s NFL franchise hasn’t won more than 10 regular season games since 1991. It also hasn’t finished with a better than .500 record in eight years, finishing just 4-13 last season.
That makes the Commanders the league’s best and biggest surprise team in 2024, standing 7-3 and headed toward making the NFC playoffs as at least a wild-card team for the first time since 2020 when they were 7-9 division winners.
Whatever happens in their tough NFC East battle with the Eagles to kick off Week 11, the Commanders have a favorable enough schedule to end up 11-6 or better, all but assuring them a shot to get to Super Bowl 59.
How did the Commanders turn themselves around so quickly with a new owner (Josh Harris) and new GM (Adam Peters)? Here’s breaking down Washington’s methodical flip to sudden great success, with the new QB and new coach playing a big part in it.
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Since Kirk Cousins left for the Vikings in the 2018 offseason, the Commanders were caught playing a bad game of bridge with Alex Smith, Case Keenum, Taylor Heinicke, and Sam Howell serving as their leading passers. Getting the No. 2 overall pick in 2024 pushed them out of the vicious cycle, with a straight shot at the Heisman winner from LSU Heisman winner.
Daniels came into the league with arguably more can’t-miss dual-threat makeup than Bears’ top pick Caleb Williams. The Commanders also were smart to recognize they would get Daniels early and hire Kliff Kingsbury as his ideal offensive coordinator. Everything was put in motion by this anticipated move.
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The Commanders also improved the infrastructure in preparation for Daniels. They got another former Chief, Nick Allegretti, to start at left guard after signing right tackle Andrew Wylie in 2023. Washington also added former Dallas center Tyler Biadasz to shore up the interior. The coup was landing left tackle Brandon Coleman in the third round this season.
Washington knew it had a sturdier run blocking inside and someone to better protect the QB, both two more tie-ins with Daniels’ skill set.
Kingsbury’s history in easing the NFL transition for Kyler Murray as the Cardinals’ offensive-minded head coach in 2019 is repeating itself. Kingsbury saw the Commanders were lacking both diversity and explosiveness in the passing game and different styles of runners in the rushing attack. With his influence, the Commanders knew which backs and receivers to further support Daniels.
Kingsbury and Daniels didn’t need a field-stretching No. 1 because Terry McLaurin already fit that profile on the roster. Unfortunately, the recent QBs in Washington were incapable of helping him get the ball downfield. Getting complementary targets was a much easier task for Peters.
Accomplished veterans RB Austin Ekeler and TE Zach Ertz were made available. For depth, journeymen WRs Noah Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus were good fits to help. Tight end Ben Sinnott and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey were short-area targets in the draft, following the philosophy with Ertz and Ekeler. Kingsbury’s offense was in business to stretch and spread the field well to take advantage of Daniels’ big arm and accuracy.
Newcomers Clelin Ferrell and Dorance Armstong have boosted the four-man front in the end rotation. Rookie Johnny Newton has been needed to start next to Daron Payne at tackle with Jonathan Allen going down for the season. Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, and Dante Fowler Jr. have raised the big-play quotient of the linebacker corps.
Before the splash move for Marshon Lattimore outside at midseason, Jeremy Chinn, Noah Igbinoghene, and rookie Mike Sainristil gave the secondary a few reinforcements. Much like Kingsbury’s influence on Peters’ personnel moves, Quinn got what he needed for his hybrid scheming.
There’s no doubt Dallas’ defense, beyond its key injuries, is feeling some major brain drain without Quinn calling the plays. Quinn also got former Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. to take those duties in Washington. Hiring Quinn was a win-win from that perspective — weakening a division rival and also giving the Commanders needed lift in their defensive spirits.
The Commanders have committed only four giveaways this season, tied for fewest in the league with Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. Last season, they threw 21 interceptions as part of 32 turnovers, the league’s fourth-highest total.
Also last season, with Howell starting most of the games, the Commanders gave up 65 sacks, tied for second-highest. That number has dropped to 21 this season, on pace for a dropoff to 36. Daniels, a more efficient running game, a better line, and more comfortable offense in general have all contributed to reducing the negative plays by a significant amount.
The longest-tenured Commander is punter Tress Way, who has served his term in Washington since 2014. But the team needed to shore up kicker and long-snapper. Austin Seibert and Tyler Ott have helped do just that.
Washington isn’t enjoying its 2024 success through smoke and mirrors. The Commanders’ schematically and personnel-wise are put together in a way they haven’t been a long time. The three-phrase transformation was remarkable and is being rewarded — and goes well beyond drafting Daniels.
