The Washington Commanders have had their bursts of success in the NFL. Although they are entering the playoffs with the Commanders branding for the first time, Washington isn’t new to postseason glory.
Let’s look back on the Commanders’ postseason history, including their Super Bowl appearances and victories, ahead of their NFC Championship Game showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. We’ll focus on their playoff results since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger.
Washington Commanders Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2020
- Wildcard: Lost 31-23 vs. Bucs
- 2015
- Wild Card: Lost 35-18 vs. Packers
- 2012
- Wildcard: Lost 24-14 vs. Seattle
- 2007
- Wild Card: Lost 25-14 vs. Seattle
- 2005
- Wild Card: Won 17-10 vs. Bucs
- Division: Lost 20-19 vs. Seattle
- 1999
- Wildcard: Won 27-13 vs. Lions
- Division: Lost 14-13 vs. Bucs
- 1992
- Wild Card: Won 24-7 vs. Vikings
- Division: Lost 20-13 vs. 49ers
- 1991
- Division: Won 24-7 vs. Falcons
- Conference Championship: Won 41-10 vs. Lions
- Super Bowl: Won 37-24 vs. Bills
- 1990
- Wild Card: Won 20-6 vs. Eagles
- Division: Lost 28-10 vs. 49ers
- 1987
- Division: Won 21-17 vs. Bears
- Conference Championship: Won 17-10 vs. Vikings
- Super Bowl: Won 42-10 vs. Broncos
- 1986
- Wild Card: Won 19-7 vs. Rams
- Divisional Round: Won 27-13 vs. Bears
- Conference Championship: Lost 17-0 vs. Giants
- 1984
- Division: Lost 23-19 vs. Bears
- 1983
- Division: Won 51-7 vs. Rams
- Conference Championship: Won 24-21 vs. 49ers
- Super Bowl: Lost 38-9 vs. Raiders
- 1982
- Wild Card: Won 31-7 vs. Lions
- Division: Won 21-7 vs. Vikings
- Conference Championship: Won 31-17 vs. Cowboys
- Super Bowl: Won 27-17 vs. Dolphins
- 1976
- Division: Lost 35-20 vs. Vikings
- Conference Championship: Won 30-20 @ 49ers
- Super Bowl: Won 52-17 vs. Buffalo
- 1974
- Divisional Round: Lost 19-10 vs. Rams
- 1973
- Divisional Round: Lost 27-20 vs. Vikings
- 1972
- Divisional Round: Won 16-3 vs. Packers
- Conference Championship: Won 26-3 vs. Cowboys
- Super Bowl: Lost 14-7 vs. Dolphins
- 1971
- Divisional Round: Lost 24-20 vs. 49ers
Commanders Playoffs History FAQ
Here’s everything you need to know about Commanders’ postseason history.
What’s the Commanders’ Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Commanders have an all-time playoff record of 25-20 and a 22-16 postseason record following the NFL’s 1970 merger.
How Many Times Have the Commanders Been to the Playoffs?
The Commanders have been to the playoffs 26 times. They were most successful in the ’70s and ’80s, with five playoff appearances in each decade.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do the Commanders Have?
The Commanders have appeared in the Super Bowl five times. Three of those five appearances were during the ’80s.
Washington made the Super Bowl in 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 1991.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Commanders Won?
The Commanders have won three Super Bowls, all within a 10-year span. They lost the opportunity to get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 1972. In 1982, they got the better of the Dolphins to win their first Super Bowl.
Washington made it to back-to-back Super Bowls, but the result didn’t go in their favor in 1983. Later, they clinched the silverware in 1987 and 1991.
When Was the Last Time the Commanders Made the Super Bowl?
The Commanders made the Super Bowl in 1991 when they defeated the Bills to win their third Super Bowl. They have not managed to advance past the divisional round since then.
Eagles vs. Commanders Game Preview
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Jan. 26, Sunday
- Channel: Fox/Fox Deportes
With one more win, Jayden Daniels can become the first rookie quarterback to start in the Super Bowl. Daniels will be the sixth rookie QB to start in the Conference Championship Round; the prior five went 0-5 and performed disastrously.
Including the playoffs, Daniels ranks first in EPA per dropback when blitzed (0.36). While still effective against standard pass rushes, his EPA per dropback drops to 0.10 (13th) in those situations.
During this playoff run, Daniels became the first rookie QB in NFL history to record 275 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in a playoff win, the first rookie to beat a No. 1 seed since Joe Flacco in 2008, and the third rookie QB to win two road playoff games (joining Flacco and Mark Sanchez).
Now, Daniels will face an Eagles defense that blitzes at the second-lowest rate of any team this season, including playoffs. During their two regular-season matchups, Daniels punished the Eagles’ blitz, producing an incredible 1.03 EPA (Expected Points Added) per dropback and 14.5 yards per attempt when blitzed.
Philadelphia only blitzed him on 14 of his 84 dropbacks (17%) in those games. Against their non-blitz pass rush, Daniels was far less effective, averaging a modest -0.02 EPA per dropback.
Saquon Barkley had significant success against Washington. In their two matchups, Barkley rushed for 451 yards and four touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry.
However, the Commanders found a way to limit Barkley in Week 16 after Jalen Hurts left the game in the first quarter, forcing Kenny Pickett to step in. Over the final three quarters, Barkley managed just 41 rushing yards on 22 attempts. Before Hurts’ injury, Barkley had been averaging over 7.7 yards per carry against Washington.
If Hurts is limited by his left leg injury, the Commanders could focus on loading up against Barkley to contain the Eagles’ rushing attack. By committing additional resources to stop Barkley, they might aim to force Hurts to rely more on his passing game, testing his mobility and effectiveness with the injury.
The Eagles have leaned heavily on Barkley and Hurts’ rushing abilities to generate offense in the playoffs. Through two games, 70.9% of their total yards have come on the ground.
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).
The Eagles lost two games in September and have lost one game since — at Washington in Week 16 after Hurts exited early with a concussion. In that loss, Philadelphia became the first team to score 21 points in the first quarter in a losing effort since the 2019 Texans (during the Divisional Round on the road against the Chiefs).
PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Eagles a 61.8% chance of winning this game while the Commanders have 38.2% odds.
