DETROIT — After Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin finished his postgame news conference, he walked away from the podium and let out a shout that for the franchise was 33 years in the making.
“Woooooo!” McLaurin shouted, shaking his fists and smiling as he disappeared out the door.
That excitement accompanied Washington’s 45-31 victory over the Detroit Lions, giving the franchise its first berth in the NFC Championship Game since the 1991 season. It was the longest such drought in the conference, a disgrace that now belongs to their rivals Dallas Cowboys (1995).
“We’re not done yet,” McLaurin said.
The joy could be heard inside and outside the Commanders locker room, with dignitaries such as former Washington coach Joe Gibbs, Commanders minority shareholder Magic Johnson, NBA star Kevin Durant and award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright all celebrating .
Commanders general manager Adam Peters, in his first season, walked around the locker room hugging several players. Co-owner Mitch Rales clapped hands and hugged the players as they entered the locker room, sharing a longer hug with McLaurin.
And co-owner Josh Harris told Team 980 and The Athletic reporters that “I’m very happy for the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia] …We are a team of destiny.”
Tonight he was on a team that was 4-13 a year ago and will now play the Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles in next week’s NFC Championship Game. Their fan base has endured not just a rough patch but a couple of bad decades.
From 1981 to 1991, the organization won three Super Bowls and appeared in a fourth. But from 1992 to 2023, Washington had the fourth-worst winning percentage in the NFC.
“I’m very excited not only for myself but for my team, especially the guys who have been here the last few years and who have been on not-so-good teams just to experience this,” Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. . “It’s amazing.”
Yet here they are, one season into what was supposed to be a rebuild under first-year coach Dan Quinn. I preferred the word “recalibrate,” but now the better term could be rejuvenated.
“This is crazy,” said Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was born in 1990, 19 months before the organization’s last Super Bowl title.
Major safety Jeremy Reaves, with the team since 2018, was answering a question about a teammate when he deflected his response while processing the moment.
“Man, this is cool,” Reaves said. “I can’t even understand this. No one thought we’d be here. Come on!”
But they’re here in part because of Jayden Daniels, who becomes the sixth rookie quarterback to reach a championship game. The other five lost. But Daniels has proven all year to be different. That was the case again Saturday night when he completed 22 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 16 times for another 51 yards.
Daniels connected on two fourth-down passes to sustain touchdown drives.
“He’s so poised and so determined,” Washington running back Austin Ekeler said of Daniels. “Every week I think, man, this guy is really good. I know I’d expect it, but time and time again he keeps proving that, hey, he has a huge key gene, and it shows up all the time.”
His teammates welcomed Daniels from the beginning, noting the work he put in (arriving ahead of any player on a daily basis) and the talent they saw on the field. They still marvel at him and know what he means to the franchise.
“I knew Jay was ready from day one,” Robinson said. “I knew he was ready not only for everything, all the great things he’s done this year, but also to prepare for the playoffs and the big moments.”
Wagner has played in two NFC Championship Games with the Seattle Seahawks and won both. He felt this team had a chance to achieve more than anticipated during a three-game losing streak that dropped their record to 7-5.
“I didn’t see anyone hesitate. I didn’t see anyone with their head down,” Wagner said of the skid. “Everyone came in still relaxed. We had our ups and downs and we had our moments when we weren’t winning. Everyone became more responsible.”
Washington hasn’t lost since, having won seven in a row. Daniels isn’t the only rookie who has contributed. Mike Sainristil, a second-round pick, opened the season at nickel cornerback, but was moved outside when the team needed more help. He consolidated the position and on Saturday intercepted two passes.
The leadership — and on-field contributions from veterans like Wagner, Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz, who caught five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Lions — has been invaluable. The Commanders have a standout player in McLaurin, who recorded a 58-yard touchdown reception, his 15th score of the season. And they have a lot of players who understand their roles and play them.
The players have talked since the spring about their bond, which grew stronger during the previous five games they won, whether in the last second or on the last play from scrimmage.
“We’re heavy hitters, we’re prepared and we’re confident,” Wagner said. “We believe in each other that is not easy to find.”
Meanwhile, Quinn wanted to stay focused on the moment and not get caught up in what Saturday’s victory meant.
“There will be a time to look back and reflect,” Quinn said, “but I’m not there yet.”