The Washington Commanders have been dancing their way through the NFL playoffs. Quite literally, judging by their practice session this week. The team has stunned everyone by reaching the NFC Championship game. And the players don’t seem to be bogged down by the daunting task ahead, or the magnanimity of the occasion. History beckons, and they are welcoming it in style, dancing to techno music in training with RB Austin Ekeler, not star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, orchestrating the ‘play’.
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Ekeler started by stomping his foot on the ground and then raising his hands in the air, soon joined by his teammates and even the coaching staff. It seems they are mentally ready for whatever challenges the Philadelphia Eagles throw at them come Sunday.
Washington Commanders were vibing at practice today: pic.twitter.com/YaKMtJSKNt
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 24, 2025
It’s good to see the Commanders feeling relaxed ahead of their matchup. It’s the franchise’s first NFC title game since 1991, but you wouldn’t know it by watching the clip. It looks like the upset win over the Detroit Lions has boosted their confidence to an all-time high. And for anyone wondering about the track that set the mood, it’s The Hum by Dimitri Vegas.
Some fans took the clip as evidence that the team will not only win this Sunday but also the Super Bowl come February.
“Yup, they are winning it all,” exclaimed a fan, while many commented that they can’t wait for the NFC game to begin.
This team is LOOSE! Leave it all out on the field Sunday!
— Roy Sanie (@RoySanie) January 24, 2025
Yup, they are winning it all✨
— A L I S S A (@MissAlissaS) January 25, 2025
Then there were those who thought the video was cringy, hinting that it was possibly staged. Some fans criticized the Commanders for opting to train indoors when they should be doing it outdoors to acclimatize themselves to the frigid temperatures they would face in Philly.
Those vibes are gonna end real quick tomorrow. Commanders have been practicing inside and running their mouths all week, Eagles have been practicing outside and focused on the task at hand. One team’s just happy to be there, the other is still hungry.
— Matt Grilli (@grilli262) January 25, 2025
This ain’t it bruh
— Imheretobet (@imheretobet) January 25, 2025
Washington head coach, Dan Quinn, said afterward that the vibing during training was not for show. According to him, the team had this season’s best Friday practice session. This augurs well for a young side about to head into a tough atmosphere for a big game.
Dan Quinn: “This is the best Friday (practice) we’ve had this season.” pic.twitter.com/yb9SQxFtag
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 24, 2025
However, the weather is going to be a factor. And they don’t seem to be preparing for it.
The Washington practice facility is indoors. A climate-controlled atmosphere like that isn’t going to replicate the conditions that are on the tab for Sunday. The temperature is supposed to be in the 30s (Fahrenheit) by kickoff. Maybe they should be practicing outside, like the Eagles are, to prepare for those freezing temps.
But it seems they aren’t much bothered with this factor. When the Commanders visited Philadelphia earlier in the season, they gave the hosts a scare, even though they eventually lost 26-18.
But this time, they need to figure out a way to get over the hump like they did in the second matchup of the regular season. They won that game 36-33. However, that was when QB Jalen Hurts was not playing for the Eagles.
Regardless, the Commanders should be loose because they have nothing to lose. Nobody expected them to make it this far in the playoffs, especially with a rookie QB at the helm.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are under immense pressure. They need to defend their home field, and Nick Sirianni is aiming for his second Super Bowl appearance in three years. A loss would hurt the resumes of both Sirianni and his QB, Hurts
The matchup should make for one of the better NFC Championships in recent memory.
