The Washington Commanders were one team that surprised the most in 2024 under new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
After being a four-win team in 2023, Quinn, with the help of Daniels and general manager Adam Peters, transformed Washington into a 12-5 team, and one that managed to win two playoff games on the road before losing the NFC Championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But Washington was an unknown commodity then - they aren't now.
Tight end Zach Ertz and the team are well aware that in the span of 12 months, they have gone from the hunter to the hunted.
"This year, we're going to get everyone's best shot, and so it's up to us to go out there and execute at a high level every game," Ertz said.
With teams having a full offseason to pull apart Washington's gameplan on both sides of the ball, coordinators Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. are going to have to get creative in how they tinker with their systems.
Offensively, Washington has added Deebo Samuel, who, if he can get past his injury troubles, looms as a key weapon in both the run and passing game. Plus, five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was signed from the Houston Texans.
So, those are two key positions that needed reinforcement, and Washington filled them both in the first few days of the offseason.
Last season was superb for Washington, but they attacked through a shadow of darkness.
But in 2025, there's no hiding anymore - there is Super Bowl buzz as the entire league knows they're coming.
