The Washington Commanders are entering the postseason for the first time since 2020 and will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a rematch from Week 1. The game will be televised on NBC at 8 p.m.
The Commanders secured the No. 6 seed in the playoffs by beating the Dallas Cowboys, 23-19, to close out the regular season with a 12-5 record -- their best since the 1991 season. The Buccaneers earned the No. 3 seed by winning the NFC South. Not only did the Atlanta Falcons -- their direct competition for the first-place spot -- end up losing in overtime to the Carolina Panthers, but the Buccaneers also came back from a 16-6 deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints.
It's been almost four months since the Commanders last traveled to Tampa Bay, Florida, to play the Buccaneers. In that season-opening matchup, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 17 of his 24 passes but could not overcome four touchdown passes from Baker Mayfield in a 37-20 loss. It was the only time all season that the Commanders lost a game by more than a touchdown.
The Sunday night game should provide a good barometer for how much the Commanders have grown in the first season of Dan Quinn's tenure as their head coach. Since that Week 1 loss, Daniels has put up record-setting numbers, both as a passer and runner, which has ignited an offense that is top five unit in total yards, rushing yards and points per game. The defense, meanwhile, has become a top 10 group that is solid at putting pressure on quarterbacks and stingy in the secondary. The Commanders entered the game ranked third in passing yards allowed.
Washington finished with a +92 point differential in the first half this season, the highest in a single season since 2007. It's also the seventh time since 2000 Washington has finished with a positive first half point differential. It scored 485 total points this season and finish tied with the 1991 team for the second-most points scored in a single season in franchise history.
