Skeptical Analyst Changing Tune on Commanders’ 2025 Super Bowl Chances originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Despite a shocking run to the NFC Championship Game to cap a stunning 2024 NFL season, the Washington Commanders remain a club that some find difficult to evaluate for 2025.
Advertisement
Can an “upstart” stay “up”?
Washington engineered for itself an eight-win jump from 2023 to 2024. They used the talent of rookie star Jayden Daniels to become one of the most stunning turn-around teams in league history.
But again… predicting what the team will do for an encore is more challenging for some.
NFL beat reporter Connor Orr was at one time not high on many of Washington’s moves this offseason to bolster its roster. Injury and effectiveness concerns for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil—two massive trade gets—have been a focus of some criticism.
Advertisement
But as Washington gets closer to the start of training camp practices (the veterans join the rookies on July 22), some of those concerns may have been nothing more than an overreaction.
“While I was not initially thrilled with the idea of adding Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil to the build process, my skepticism has taken a backseat to my confidence in an offensive coaching staff that is garnering heavy buzz around the league right now,” Orr said. “If what we saw from Jayden Daniels during his rookie season was merely the tip of the iceberg, I think the Commanders have the potential to be a Ravens-like outlier in how they produce yards.”
Our view? Forget the “turn-around” and the “upstart” stuff. Let’s just evaluate where this team is now. Simply put—Washington has all the tools to be one of the best offenses in football and one of the better overall teams as well.
Advertisement
GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn’s team isn’t without its concerns, and Deebo and Tunsil living up to their billing is something to watch. But it’s a decent bet to predict that the Commanders should be back in the playoffs for a second straight season … and if they do so, it’ll be the first time this franchise will have accomplished that feat since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
So yes, the “stunning” nature of what Washington has done really can take another step… skepticism aside.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.