Getting to rest and reflect at this late stage of the season is a luxury not many are given. Having a Week 14 bye for the Washington Commanders wasn't ideal, but they dug deep to put themselves in a profitable position.
Dan Quinn stated this week that the energy and buzz within the locker room have returned. The Commanders are alive again after fighting through significant adversity. They also have the seventh seed in their grasp and potentially even one spot higher depending on how the Green Bay Packers fare over the next month.
Nobody is getting complacent. Quinn wants his squad to take things one game at a time and focus on what they can control. But make no mistake, the pressure is on to meet raised expectations after being in the postseason spots for months.
General manager Adam Peters is starting to form offseason plans. The coaches and players might have their sights set on the knockout rounds, but those behind the scenes are thinking further ahead. How certain individuals perform down the stretch will have a big say on whether they stick around or not.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players entering the last chance saloon after the 2024 bye week.
Zane Gonzalez - Commanders PK
The Washington Commanders gave Zane Gonzalez a supreme vote of confidence by keeping faith with the kicker despite his inconsistent effort in Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans. Dan Quinn thinks he's got what it takes in high-pressure situations. It's an opportunity he cannot waste.
Austin Seibert is on injured reserve after coming back too soon versus the Dallas Cowboys. He's aiming to return sooner rather than later, so the margin for error is non-existent where Gonzalez is concerned.
The Commanders cannot afford their kicking spot to become a weak link. Things will get tighter the further along they go. If Gonzalez cannot come through, it could be the difference between making the postseason or narrowly missing out.
What comes next is down to the player.