Many expected the Commanders to be lucky enough to win six games in Quinn’s first season. There were also some who believed that doubling their wins from 2023 would be a good start to rebuilding the squad.

Now the Commanders have a chance to triple their win total and secure the No. 6 seed in the playoffs if they get a win over the Cowboys next week.

For the first time since 2020, the Commanders have secured a playoff spot, and unlike when they sneaked into the postseason with a 7-9 record, they are expected to be more of a contender in the talent pool of NFC opponents will be candidates. While the last two weeks haven’t always been pretty, they’ve proven that they can compete with and even beat playoff-caliber teams when they’re at their best.

The players probably won’t look forward to the playoffs until they get there. That’s been the team’s mantra all season, and that won’t change now that they’ve punched their postseason ticket. For everyone else, though, it’s fun to imagine what the team could look like, not just if they play in the Wild Card round, but what they could accomplish in future seasons.

Regardless of whether analysts expect the Commanders to pull off a win or make a major breakthrough, it’s undeniable that the franchise is moving in a good direction.