It feels surreal, but the Washington Commanders are only a year removed from a Week 16 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles that moved them to 10-5 and solidified their status as the darlings of the NFL. Things are a lot different 12 months on.
Washington stumbled through an ugly loss to those same Eagles, dropping to 4-11. The only real fight came after the whistle, sparked by a late, unnecessary two-point conversion from Nick Sirianni that led to ejections and a sideline brawl.
For fans in D.C., the holiday cheer has officially run dry. And reckoning with the past, while recognizing present failures and future needs, cannot be overstated.