The opinions expressed in this article are from national reporters and do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders are in the postseason for the first time since 2020 and are set to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. Let's see how they stack up with the rest of this year's playoff teams.
USA Today
Rank: 11
- Nate Davis: Washington likely has enough firepower to notch a postseason win. But the Bucs are a very tough matchup out of the chute. And the rookie passers who have historically had the most success in the playoffs -- think Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, Russell Wilson or Ben Roethlisberger – have essentially had complete teams around them, ones that weren't necessarily reliant on a green QB. Washington isn't that kind of outfit, so very high bar for Daniels and OC Kliff Kingsbury -- he's never experienced a postseason victory in his five seasons on NFL coaching staffs -- to clear immediately.
CBS Sports
Rank: 7
- **Cody Benjamin:** How far can a rookie quarterback go? Jayden Daniels is even more electric than Stroud was in 2023, boasting snappy throws and super scrambling speed, but Washington is banking almost exclusively on his athleticism, considering its otherwise sluggish backfield and so-so Dan Quinn-led defense.
FOX Sports
Rank: 7
- Bucky Brooks: Jayden Daniels' emergence as a superstar has sparked a dramatic turnaround in the nation's capital. The dynamic dual-threat playmaker can put the Commanders offense on his back with improvisational skills. Moreover, Daniels can carve up defenses with surgical precision from a clean pocket, particularly with Terry McLaurin screaming past defenders on vertical routes. With an offense controlling the game on the ground or through the air, the Commanders can win in a shootout or grind-it-out affair on the road.
Bleacher Report
Rank: 8
- *B/R Staff:* There isn't a more surprising postseason team in the NFL than the Washington Commanders. This is a team that had the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Of course, when you use that pick on a quarterback who has all but run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, things can turn around in a hurry.
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 11
- Conor Orr: One of the great unknowns heading into the playoffs, the Commanders finish a first season under Dan Quinn wholly revitalized. Though this season hinged on some massively good fortune, the Commanders are talented enough offensively to keep up in a shootout -- something we've seen the Buccaneers cut loose on several times this year.
Yahoo Sports
Rank: 8
- Frank Schwab: The Commanders and Buccaneers have met, but a lot has changed since Week 1. Most notably, Jayden Daniels has become a complete quarterback since he barely threw downfield that day. Commanders-Bucs could end up being the best game on wild-card weekend.
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium for their Week 18 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, shot on Sony. (Photos by Emilee Fails/Washington Commanders)
1 / 41
2 / 41
3 / 41
4 / 41
5 / 41
6 / 41
7 / 41
8 / 41
9 / 41
10 / 41
11 / 41
12 / 41
13 / 41
14 / 41
15 / 41
16 / 41
17 / 41
18 / 41
19 / 41
20 / 41
21 / 41
22 / 41
23 / 41
24 / 41
25 / 41
26 / 41
27 / 41
28 / 41
29 / 41
30 / 41
31 / 41
32 / 41
33 / 41
34 / 41
35 / 41
36 / 41
37 / 41
38 / 41
39 / 41
40 / 41
41 / 41
This Ad will close in 3
Yardbarker
Rank: 7
- Mike J. Asti: Jayden Daniels has provided Washington fans with hope they haven't felt in a long time. However, will Daniels' inexperience make the NFL postseason stage too big for the rookie?
Pro Football Network
Rank: 9
- Alex Kennedy: The Week 18 Marcus Mariota-led dramatic comeback ensured that the Commanders will stay at the No. 6 seed (while also not being swept by their NFC East rivals, the Cowboys). With this win, Washington avoids a third matchup against Philadelphia, where the Commanders lost 26-18 in Week 11. Instead, Jayden Daniels got the second half off to finish a regular season that will likely result in the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Sporting News
Rank: 7
- Vinnie Iyer: The Commanders cannot be ruled out for a deep run following their outstanding turnaround. They are steady when moving the ball with a run-heavy approach, but they can also pick opponents apart in the downfield passing game. Washington is an inexperienced group, but Jayden Daniels' energy and advanced leadership can lead to more big surprises.
NFL.com
Rank: 12
- Jeffri Chadiha: Head coach Dan Quinn is a candidate for Coach of the Year honors given how much this team surprised this season. Even the most optimistic Commanders fan had to be stunned by what this team accomplished after holding the second overall pick in last year's draft. That said, it will be interesting to see if this feel-good story continues deep into the postseason.
