{"id":20829,"date":"2025-01-20T09:53:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T09:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20829"},"modified":"2025-01-20T09:53:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T09:53:46","slug":"shocker-commanders-send-nfc-east-warning-shot-straight-at-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20829","title":{"rendered":"SHOCKER: Commanders Send NFC East Warning Shot Straight at Cowboys!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"m-detail-header--dek\">The Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning upset of the Detroit Lions in the playoffs that signals a momentum shift in their division.<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--flexbox\">\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--meta\">\n<div class=\"m-description--list\">\n<p>A pair of shocking wins have the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/washington-commanders\/\">Washington Commanders<\/a>\u00a0in a spot they have not reached since the 1991-92 season. They find themselves in the NFC Championship game, one win away from a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/super-bowl\">Super Bowl<\/a>\u00a0LXIX berth.<\/p>\n<p>Their win over the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/tampa-bay-buccaneers\/\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>\u00a0during Wildcard weekend raised some eyebrows. But Saturday&#8217;s demolition of the No. 1 seeded\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/detroit-lions\/\">Detroit Lions<\/a>\u00a0made perhaps the most resounding statement from this franchise in decades.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\" data-zone-count=\"3\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Washington&#8217;s magical season not only has them on the verge of a conference championship, but also in place to shake things up at a more fundamental level. \u2026<\/p>\n<p>A level at which the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys\/\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a>\u00a0sit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-item-inline\">\n<figure class=\"l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline\"><a><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.webp 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.webp 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.webp 700w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.jpg 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.jpg 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"m-detail--tml-image m-image\" src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.jpg\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"Jayden Daniels looks to pass against Brian Branch in the 2025 NFL Divisional Round\" width=\"2881\" height=\"1921\" data-src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEyMjIwMTg4MTM1Nzk0MTg1\/usatsi_25224851_168416182_lowres.jpg\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--tml-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"m-detail--tml-image-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<p class=\"tml-image--caption\">Jayden Daniels looks to pass against Brian Branch in the 2025 NFL Divisional Round<\/p>\n<p class=\"tml-image--attribution\"><a href=\"http:\/\/imagn.com\/setImages\/669983\/preview\/25224851\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">David Reginek-Imagn Images<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Commanders have won the NFC East once since 2015, taking the division in the 2020 season with a lackluster 7-9 record. The Dallas Cowboys and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/philadelphia-eagles\/\">Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>\u00a0have jousted for the crown in every year besides that singular campaign.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\" data-zone-count=\"3\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Coming into the season, that figured to be the same story. Dan Quinn&#8217;s team around a promising young\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/25-greatest-quarterbacks-nfl-history-2016\">quarterback<\/a>\u00a0in Daniels figured to be a player in future seasons.<\/p>\n<p>That process, however, has accelerated in a significant way. The Commanders have the look of a team ready to contend annually in their division.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-embed-card--list\"><\/div>\n<p>What has been a two-horse race may now become one between three or perhaps two separate horses from years past. Nonetheless, the Commanders&#8217; upset and surprising postseason run has signaled a dynamic shift in the East.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\" data-zone-count=\"3\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>A win next week over the vaunted rival Eagles in the NFC Championship game would further that point and that game remains front of center in terms of where the teams focus lies.<\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t suddenly relegate Dallas to being a second-class citizen. Jerry Jones\u2019 team has a talent base to bounce back from this 7-10 season.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the Commanders have the makings of a consistent contender, a reality that fans can positively embrace regardless of the outcome next Sunday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-embed-card--list\">\n<div class=\"m-card--media\"><a class=\"m-card--image-link\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/washington-commanders\/washington-commanders-terry-mclaurin-reacts-detroit-lions-upset-not-done-yet\" rel=\"\"><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.webp 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.webp 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.webp 640w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.jpg 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.jpg 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjEyMjE5MjUzNDQzNTM2NTEy\/terry-mclaurin.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning upset of the Detroit Lions in the playoffs that signals a momentum shift in their division. A pair of shocking&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>SHOCKER: Commanders Send NFC East Warning Shot Straight at Cowboys! - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20829\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SHOCKER: Commanders Send NFC East Warning Shot Straight at Cowboys! - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Washington Commanders pulled off a stunning upset of the Detroit Lions in the playoffs that signals a momentum shift in their division. 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