NFC Playoff Picture: Where Are Washington Commanders After Loss vs. Seattle Seahawks?
The Washington Commanders (4-6) lost 29-26 on a last-second field goal to the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) and significantly hurt their already dwindling playoff chances in the process.
With the NFC having played all of its Week 10 games we now know after this latest Commanders loss they sit in 9th place in the current playoff picture, two spots outside of the final Wild Card birth.
There was never a chance Washington would hold the 7th Seed after Week 10 because of the win-loss records of the teams ahead of it, but it could have been in a position to make a serious push for the spot in the weeks to come.
Now, the team not only has to fight to get into the picture again but has to overcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) who move up to 7th place after they beat the Tennessee Titans (3-6) on Sunday.
Coming into the weekend we asked Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio if he could put his finger on why his unit hasn't been as effective as we thought it would or at least could be entering the year.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter at Lumen Field.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
"Explosive plays allowed," Del Rio said was the reason. "That's been the big problem. We're playing solid in a lot of areas but the explosive plays allowed - many of them gift-type situations - are the ones that keep us from ranking well."
Like all coaches, Del Rio doesn't care about his team's rankings, because the rankings are simply a byproduct of good or bad football.
In Week 10 Del Rio's defense allowed seven explosive plays on six drives. Those Seattle possessions produced 22 of the team's 29 points and that's no coincidence.
Right now, the byproduct shows Washington's defense is producing poorly and has wasted yet another 25+ point performance by the offense.
The team will now look toward next week and a home date against the New York Giants (2-8) who beat the Commanders in their previous matchup, 14-7.
A win back home next weekend and Washington could find itself one spot out once again, but with a road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys waiting just four days after that, this one was a victory it needed most.
And once again, the Commanders fell just short of their goal.
