The Washington Commanders were one of the best stories of the 2024 NFL season, but the final chapter isn’t written just yet.
The long-suffering franchise went from the No. 2 overall pick to the postseason behind electrifying rookie Jayden Daniels. Now looking to build on an unexpected playoff run, who could the Commanders face if they advance to the Divisional Round?
What Are the Washington Commanders’ Playoff Scenarios?
As the No. 6 seed, there were three potential opponents for the Commanders in the Divisional Round entering Sunday. The two teams they absolutely could not face in the Divisional Round were the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers and the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, obviously).
But Green Bay’s loss to the Eagles on Sunday means that the Commanders only had one possible opponent next week in the Divisional Round entering Sunday night’s game.
Following Sunday’s thrilling 23-20 win over the Buccaneers, the Commanders will be Michigan bound to take on the NFC’s top-seeded Detroit Lions. That game will be played on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on FOX.
The PFN NFL Playoff Predictor gives the Commanders just a 35% chance to knock off the 14-win Lions at Ford Field next week.
Washington did not play the Lions during the regular season. They haven’t played in the Divisional Round since after the 2005 season, when they lost to the eventual NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
MORE: NFL Playoff Bracket and Divisional Round Schedule
Could the Commanders Host the NFC Championship Game?
The only way the Commanders could have hosted the NFC Championship Game would have been if the Packers had knocked off the Eagles on Wild Card Weekend and then also defeated the Lions in the Divisional Round. But following Green Bay’s loss, there is no way for the Commanders to host a playoff game this season.
In the brief history of the 14-team playoff format (since 2020), no No. 6 seed has hosted a playoff game. The only No. 6 seed to win multiple games was the 2021 San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Dallas Cowboys and Packers before falling to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
