ASHBURN, Va. (DC News Now) — The Washington Commanders were back at practice Wednesday getting set for the NFC Championship game Sunday vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.
From 4-13 a season ago, to one win away from the Super Bowl. The team has turned around the franchise in just one year. Heading into the title game this weekend, the Commanders are locked in, excited about the position they are in, and ready to prove that they belong.
“It’s a blessing to make it this far in the season,” said quarterback Jayden Daniels. “A lot of teams want to be in this position. Can’t really take it for granted, but you also got to be in the moment and take it one day at a time.”
“It’s not a prove it to everybody else or underdog stories,” said head coach Dan Quinn. “It’s how we get down. This is not a seven game series. We got to play our best on Sunday at 3 o’clock.”
For the players, it’s something you dream about as a kid. From the first time you pick up a football, you dream of playing in the Super Bowl. In the locker room after practice, the players expressed how that dream is one game away from being a reality.
“We are not really celebrating or reminiscing because the job’s not done yet,” said wide receiver Terry McLaurin. “We don’t feel like we’ve reached our ceiling. Everything we want is still out in front of us.”
“I don’t want to make the moment too big,” said wide receiver Dyami Brown. “It is a big game, but at the end of the day, it’s playing football. I’ve been playing football in the backyard and in the street since I was a little kid at recess. It’s all the same.”
“We are sitting here, in the locker room, talking right now, getting ready to go play in the NFC Championship,” said punter Tress Way. “That’s just the reality, that is the situation, and just can’t freaking wait.”
The Commanders will practice in Ashburn Thursday and Friday before heading to Philadelphia on Saturday. Washington will play the Eagles on Sunday in the NFC Championship game at 3 p.m.
