The Washington Commanders will continue their Cinderella season, and now postseason, when they travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
2024 was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Commanders with new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading a team that sold off multiple key pieces of the team before the 2023 trade deadline.
Instead, the Commanders are one win away from reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991. Per ESPN BET, the Commanders are 6-point underdogs to the Eagles.
On Saturday, the league sent a distraction to All-Pro linebacker Frankie Luvu.
Washington Commanders: The NFL sent two fines to Frankie Luvu
Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the league sent two fines his way for hits that took place during the Commanders’ 45-31 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in the divisional round.
The league fined Luvu for roughing the passer on a hit that led to a pick-six of Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
“The NFL fined Commanders LB Frankie Luvu $16,883 for roughing the passer (blow to the head/neck) — his block on Lions QB Jared Goff that aided a pick-six return,” Pelissero posted on X. “No flag was thrown on what ended up being a pivotal play in Washington’s upset win.”
A fine for the hip-drop
Luvu was also fined $16,883 for a hip-drop tackle of running back Jahmyr Gibbes. The 28-year-old defender lost $33,766 in fines during the divisional round.
“Luvu also was fined $16,883 for an illegal hip-drop tackle on Jahmyr Gibbs a few plays later,” Pelissero posted. “No penalty there either. So, $33,766 in fines for Luvu but no flags.”
Luvu can take out his anger at the Eagles on Sunday.
The league is continuing to punish defenders for playing football. Hopefully, the league’s owners will adopt changes to protect that side of the ball.
