While the Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers may have stung and humbled the Washington Commanders, the team will no doubt feel emboldened by the situation ahead of it with two games left in the regular season.   

If Washington wins its remaining two games, it secures the seventh seed to make the playoffs.  

"That's exactly what you want, right Fred?" Logan Paulsen said on the most recent episode of Command Center with Fred Smoot and Bram Weinstein. "We control our own destiny. We win games, we're in. That's exactly what you want if you're coaching this team and if you're playing for them too." 

The current playoff picture is sure to have the Commanders riling each other up and holding each other accountable as they prepare for these critical upcoming contests.  

"That's when you look at everybody in the locker room and say, 'It's on us,'" Smoot said. "We set that up. We set everything up by how we go out there and play eight quarters…These are the games you live for."  

As any professional will emphasize though, all the big goals you may want ahead of you start taking care of business in the first game right in front of you. For the Commanders, that will be the Browns on New Year's Day at home.

Here's a morning roundup of what the local and national media have to say about the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. All reports, rumors and conjecture are a reflection of the media conversation and are not endorsed or confirmed by the Washington Commanders.

The reports and deals expressed in this article have not been confirmed by Washington, nor do they reflect any insider information from anyone in the front office.

• The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala writes about how Jahan Dotson re-emerged as a menace to defenses.
• The Athletic's Ben Standig and David Aldridge write about Chase Young's return, the Commanders playoff picture and more.
• The Washington Post's Sam Fortier writes that Chase Young is ready to "be that dog" again.
• The Washington Post's Jerry Brewer gives his perspective on the Commanders quarterback situation.
• The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala reports on the Commanders' loss to the 49ers.
• The Washington Times' Matthew Paras writes about the Commanders' quarterback situation.
• NBC Sports Washington's Ethan Cadeaux reports on Ron Rivera's decision about the Commanders' starting quarterback.
• NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay gives his stock reports after the Commanders' game against the 49ers.
• The Athletic's Ben Standig provides some more perspective on the Commanders' quarterback situation.
• USA Today's Bryan Manning writes that Kam Curl was sorely missed against the 49ers.

Check Out What's On Commanders.com:

• Numbers to know from Washington's Christmas Eve matchup with San Francisco
• 5 takeaways from Washington's loss against San Francisco
• Commanders-49ers Stats & Snaps
• Instant analysis | Commanders drop second straight with loss to 49ers