Commanders exult in 1st NFC title game since '91

DETROIT — After Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin finished his postgame news conference, he stepped away from the podium and let out a yell that for the franchise was 33 years in the making.

“Wooooooo!” McLaurin said, shaking his fists and smiling as he disappeared out the door.

That emotion accompanied Washington’s 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions, giving the franchise its first NFC Championship Game berth since the 1991 season. It was the longest drought in the NFC, a dishonor that now belongs to the rival Dallas Cowboys (1995).

“We’re not done yet,” McLaurin said.

The joy could be heard inside and outside the Commanders’ locker room, with dignitaries such as former Washington coach Joe Gibbs, minority shareholder Magic Johnson, NBA star Kevin Durant and award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright all celebrating.

General manager Adam Peters, in his first season, went around the locker room hugging various players. Co-owner Mitch Rales slapped hands and hugged players as they entered the locker room, sharing a longer embrace with McLaurin.

And owner Josh Harris told reporters from the Team980 and Athletic that “I’m so happy for the DMV… We’re a team of destiny.”

This night belonged to a team that was 4-13 a year ago and now will play either the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles in next week’s championship game. It’s a fan base that endured not a bad stretch but, rather, a bad couple of decades. From 1981-91 the organization won three Super Bowls and appeared in a fourth.

But, from 1992 through 2023 Washington owned the NFC’s fourth-worst winning percentage.

“I’m so excited not only for myself but my team, especially the guys that have been here for the last couple of years that’s been on not so good team just to experience this,” running back Brian Robinson said. “It’s amazing.”

Yet here they are, one season into what was supposed to be a rebuild under first-year coach Dan Quinn. He preferred the word “recalibrate,” but the better word now would be rejuvenated.

“This is crazy,” said Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was born in 1990, 19 months before the organization’s last Super Bowl title.

Safety Jeremy Reaves, with the organization since 1990, was answering a question about teammate Mike Sainristil when he diverted his answer as he processed the moment.

“Man, this is cool,” said safety Jeremy Reaves, with the team since 2018. “I can’t even put my head around this. No one thought we would be here. Let’s go!”

But they’re here in part because of Jayden Daniels, who becomes the sixth rookie quarterback to reach a championship game. The other five have lost; but Daniels has proven all year to be different. That was the case again Saturday night when he completed 22-of-31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 16 times for another 51 yards.

He connected on two fourth-down passes to sustain touchdown drives.

“He’s so poised and so clutch,” said running back Austin Ekeler. “Every week I’m like, man, this guy is really good. I know to expect it, but again and again he continues to show that, hey, he has a huge clutch gene and it shows up all the time.”

Washington’s players embraced Daniels from the start, pointing to the work he put in — arriving before any player on a daily basis — and the talent they saw on the field. They still marvel at him and they know what he means to the franchise.

“I knew Jay was ready, day one,” Robinson said. “I knew he was ready not only for everything, all the great stuff he’s done this year, but to have himself prepared for the playoffs and the big-time moments.”

Wagner has played in two championship games with Seattle, winning both. He sensed this team had a chance to accomplish more than anticipated during a three-game losing streak that dropped their record to 7-5.

“I didn’t see anybody waver, I didn’t see anyone have their heads down,” Wagner said of the losing streak. “Everyone was coming in still relaxed. We had our ups, and we had our moments when we weren’t winning. Everyone became more accountable.”

Washington hasn’t lost since that time, having won seven in a row. Daniels isn’t the only rookie who has contributed. Sainristil, a second-round pick, opened the year as a nickel corner but moved outside when the team needed more help. He solidified the position and, Saturday, intercepted two passes.

The leadership — and on-field contributions from veterans such as Wagner, Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz, who caught five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown — has been invaluable. They have a standout receiver in McLaurin, who had a 58-yard touchdown, his 14th of the season. And a lot of players who understand their roles and fill them.

Players have talked since the spring about their bond, which was enhanced during the previous five games when they won each one either at the final second or on the last play from scrimmage.

“We’re heavy hitters, we’re poised and we’re confident,” Wagner said. “We have a belief in one another that’s not easily found.”

Meanwhile, Quinn wanted to stay focused in the moment and not get caught up in what Saturday’s win meant.

“There will be a time to look back and reflect,” Quinn said, “but I’m not there yet.”