Commanders have another chance to prove they have key Super Bowl trait after veteran starter is lost for playoffs
The Washington Commanders' return to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 season has been in part defined by their ability to overcome adversity. And they will need to display that trait again if they are to make it to Super Bowl 59 after getting bad news on a key starter. […]
The Washington Commanders' return to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 season has been in part defined by their ability to overcome adversity.
And they will need to display that trait again if they are to make it to Super Bowl 59 after getting bad news on a key starter.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the knee injury right guard Sam Cosmi suffered in the Commanders' stunning Divisional Round win over the Detroit Lions is considered "potentially serious", meaning he is essentially guaranteed to miss the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl 59 if the Commanders manage to advance.
The Commanders didn't just survive the loss of Cosmi against Detroit, they thrived. Ultra-composed rookie sensation Jayden Daniels did not suffer a sack and the running game excelled after Trent Scott replaced Cosmi.
Indeed, Commanders running backs tallied 90 yards on 16 carries in the second half compared to 42 yards on nine carries in the first half.
Scott will now likely step in for the rest of the playoff run and, while the defensive front they face in the title game will provide a sterner test than that of Detroit regardless of the outcome of the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, it is an opportunity for the Commanders to prove they have the mettle to go all the way.
Washington has overcome adversity frequently in a season that will live long in the memory. With a huge slice of fortune, the Commanders put a poor offensive showing behind them to beat the Chicago Bears on a Hail Mary in Week 8 and, after a three-game losing streak raised doubts about their playoff credentials, they reeled off five straight wins to end the regular season 12-5. That run included a comeback from 14 points down and a dramatic two-minute drill in an overtime win over the Eagles in Week 16.
Winning on the road in Los Angeles or Philadelphia without their best offensive lineman will be the toughest test they have faced yet, but all the evidence from this campaign suggests the Commanders are built to rise to it.
Commanders made Lions fans wave the white flag thanks to dominant performance during playoff game
As expected, Ford Field was hyped up before the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions kicked off on Saturday night. And for good reason. Detroit was a big-time favorite and coming off a historical season, both team- and league-wise. The Lions were also pegged by many to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and even […]
