The opinions expressed in this article are from national reporters and do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders are one game away from the Super Bowl after taking down the Detroit Lions, 45-31. Let's see how they stack up against the other three teams left standing in the postseason.
NFL.com
Rank: 3
- Eric Edholm: 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.
Pro Football Network
Rank: 4
- **Alex Kennedy:** The Commanders will play in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. Only the Browns, who last appeared in a Conference Championship Game in 1989, endured a longer drought. Washington went 4-13 (.235) last year, marking the fourth-worst win percentage in the season prior to making a Conference Championship appearance, trailing only the 2017 Jaguars (0.188), 2006 Saints (0.188), and 1967 Oilers (0.214). Jayden Daniels has put the Commanders on his back. He became the first rookie to beat a No. 1 seed since Joe Flacco in 2008, the first rookie QB in NFL history to record 275 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in a playoff win, and the third rookie QB to win two road playoff games (joining Flacco and Mark Sanchez). Now, Daniels is attempting to become the first rookie QB to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Washington is the ultimate Cinderella team, and PFN's model gives the Commanders a 38.2% chance of defeating the Eagles and a 16.7% chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
The 33rd Team
Rank: 4
- Marcus Mosher: We've seen a lot of improbable postseason runs, but the Washington Commanders reaching the NFC Championship Game with a rookie quarterback and a first-year head coach is up there. Washington went into Detroit and knocked off the No. 1 seed and did it convincingly. Jayden Daniels continues to be a revelation and has given Washington all the hope and excitement it has been missing during the last 20 years. It is just one win away from the Super Bowl and will face the Eagles, who it beat earlier this year in dramatic fashion. But will the stage be too big for this young team? Or will the Commanders continue to shock us? We can't wait to watch.
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders at Ford Field for their Divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions, shot on Sony. (Photos by Emilee Fails/Washington Commanders)
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Sporting News
Rank: 4
- Vinnie Iyer: Daniels has been downright dazzling as a rookie QB beyond his years. He's on fire and can keep leading the Commanders to huge things right away. ... The Commanders were third behind the Ravens and Eagles with an average of 151.7 yards per game. Daniels does factor into that, but they can spread the field and pound well against virtually any defense. ... The Commanders contained the Lions' downfield passing well with disciplined schemes, and they got bonus takeaways to control the flow of the game.
Sharp Football Analysis
Rank: 2
- Pamela Maldonado: The Commanders shocked the Lions with a 45-31 divisional round win, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' 299 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 51 rushing yards. The offense was explosive, and the defense forced 5 turnovers including a pick-6. Vulnerabilities in run defense and the secondary could be a concern, especially against the Eagles' rushing attack and Jalen Hurts in the NFC Championship. Despite inexperience, the Commanders' Super Bowl odds have surged from +4500 to +650. If Daniels continues his clutch play and the defense steps up, the Commanders could complete their Cinderella story with a historic Super Bowl run.
