Sunday’s blowout of the Tennessee Titans did wonders for the Washington Commanders in the locker room and amongst their fan base. It did little, however, to change the direction of the playoff path.
Jayden Daniels threw for three touchdowns and the Commanders rushed for a season-high 260 yards to overwhelm the lowly Titans, 42-19, at Northwest Stadium. Now entering their Bye, Washington no longer has a three-game streak but has an 8-5 record in the middle of the NFC playoff race.
After Sunday’s win, the Commanders still have a hold on the seventh and final postseason berth and remain a firm favorite to make the playoffs.
With the Philadelphia Eagles upsetting the Baltimore Ravens to win their eighth consecutive game, it feels more and more like the NFC East ship has sailed. The Commanders host the 10-2 Eagles Dec. 22, but will need Philly to surprisingly stub its toe in at least one more game to make it mean anything division-wise.
To move up from the No. 7 seed and the third Wild Card berth, Washington will need to keep winning and get some help.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the closest team chasing the Commanders, and they improved to 6-6 win over the lowly Carolina Panthers. The teams ahead of them in the Wild Card chase – the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers – also both won home games to remain 10-2 and 9-3, respectively.
Washington is a +7000 longshot to win Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, a +2100 underdog to win the NFC East, but a -310 favorite to at least make the playoffs.