The Washington Commanders’ fourth-down aggression is a key factor in their success on the field. The team’s 20-for-23 conversion rate (87%) on fourth down during the regular season was the highest in NFL history for a team with at least 15 attempts.
In Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders showed off their aggressive approach on fourth down. Despite failing to convert on a crucial fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line, they later capitalized on another failed Buccaneers’ drive and converted a fourth-and-2 for a touchdown.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn attributes his team’s success to confidence in their offense, particularly quarterback Jayden Daniels’ ability to make plays with his legs. The Commanders have practiced this philosophy extensively, which has given them faith and confidence when faced with fourth-down decisions.
Quinn carefully evaluates each drive, considering factors like time, score, and field position before making a call on whether to go for it or punt. This approach has paid off for the Commanders, who are unlikely to see much punting this weekend in their divisional-round game against the Detroit Lions.
Source: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/14/what-makes-the-washington-commanders-so-good-on-fourth-down/77696480007