The Washington Commanders are knocking on the postseason door with four games to go. Now 8-5 after their 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13, the path to their first playoff appearance is simple: keep winning, and they can at least lock up the No. 7 seed and a Wild Card appearance.
The Commanders aren't looking that far ahead, though. In fact, when Dan Quinn was asked about emphasizing that the team controls their own destiny, the head coach dismissed that premise.
"You must have just logged on," Quinn said. "There's zero chance we're talking about four weeks down the road, but what I can tell you, my friend, is that we really try to stay into the here and now."
That's the attitude that Quinn and the Commanders have had all year. Rather than look at what could be in the future, they've elected to put all their attention solely on the opponents in front of them. That approach is what put them in playoff position in the first place, and they aren't deviating from that now, no matter how close they are to reaching that goal.
"What I talked about with the team was a concept of base camp," Quinn said. "We're not at the bottom, but we're nowhere near the summit."
The Commanders might not be near the summit, but it's certainly within sight if they cared to look for it. Washington exceeded many analysts' expectations in Quinn's first season with a 7-2 start and an offense, led by rookie Jayden Daniels, that has set league and franchise records. Although the three-game losing streak in November did slow the momentum, Washington remains in a good spot having doubled their win total from 2023 along with a 5-3 conference record. That last part could be important should it come down to tiebreakers at season's end.
As positive as it could be to look at how far the team has come in three months, there are also plenty of distractions around the NFL. Although the Commanders have a strong shot of making the postseason, it's not a foregone conclusion. Teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals could all be in play for the No. 7 seed as well. The Rams, who are one game back from the Commanders, have won six of their last eight games with a favorable end to the schedule.
So, rather than have the team place their attention on possible scenarios or what else is happening around the league, Quinn wants his players to look at what's immediately ahead of them.
"It is exciting," said wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. "We've earned that [a playoff spot] up to this point, but what's in the past is in the past. We'll continue to push forward."
That's not to say that the Commanders are unaware of their position. As Daniels said during his press conference, "you can't really hide from any of that" because of how much it's talked about on social media. And of course, the players want the fans and league to be excited about what they're doing on the field.
That isn't for them to participate in, though.
"We can't focus on four weeks from now," Daniels said. "We gotta go out there and compete against the Saints. Worry about the Saints, then move on to the next week, the next week."
And the Saints should give the Commanders plenty to focus on this week. New Orleans, though not mathematically eliminated yet, sits at 5-8 with several injuries on offense, most notably at quarterback, as Derek Carr is dealing with a hand injury and in the concussion protocol. Assuming he is ruled out, it will be either Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler who lines up against Washington on Sunday.
Still, the Saints, who have won three of their last four games, have weapons that can hurt Washington. Alvin Kamara, the team's top rusher and pass-catcher, has 1,000 scrimmage yards for the eighth consecutive season. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee leads the team with 7.5 sacks and is third in the category for his position.
It still looks like a game that Washington can win, but the players are overlooking a Saints team that still has something to play for in a hostile environment.
"It is going to be a good challenge," Daniels said. "They're a good team. Superdome gets pretty loud and they're rolling, so we'll go out there, we'll see what we could do and compete against them."
With four games left, the Commanders have the chance to get their first winning season since 2016. And for the fans wondering what a win would mean for Washington's playoff chances, the New York Times' playoff simulator gives the Burgundy & Gold a 95% chance of making the postseason should they beat the Saints.
That should create some excitement for the fan base. The Commanders will focus on the playoffs when they get here.
"Can we get better and get everything we need to do for New Orleans?" Quinn said. "The following week we'll do the same, but I just try to make it a discipline. Can we be disciplined enough to not look three and four weeks down the road? And that's what we'll constantly go after."
