It’s been a season of discontent for the Washington Commanders, with a woebegone 4-12 record and a potential head coaching change coming in the weeks ahead. With a new ownership group in the Nation’s Capital and the winds of change fully upon us, it’s worth wondering where Washington will go in 2024 and beyond at Virginia sportsbooks.
One thing that we do know is that the Commanders were one of several NFL teams with zero Pro Bowl selections this year, reflecting how dreary the current situation is in DC. With that in mind, it’s worth wondering how Washington can regain what little swagger they have left in the new year, as the Commanders look to make it back to the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 2020 in 2024.
Utilizing Sports-Reference.com, BetVirginia.com looked at how teams played the following NFL season after having zero Pro Bowlers selected that year. There have been 34 teams that have had 0 Pro Bowlers since the 2010 Pro Bowl.
NFL Teams Year After 0 Pro Bowlers
Can Washington Succeed The Next Year?
Of the 34 teams that have had zero Pro Bowlers since 2010, only 11 went on to reach the playoffs the following season. Two of those (or 5.9%) made it to their conference championship game or the Super Bowl. The 2022 Cincinnati Bengals made it furthest of the bunch, reaching the Super Bowl before falling to the Los Angeles Rams, while the average year-end record for teams with no Pro Bowl players was 7-9 the year after.
For the Commanders, 2023-24 represents the first time since 2010 that the franchise hasn’t had at least one Pro Bowl selection, snapping what was the NFL’s longest streak (alongside the New England Patriots).
The Jacksonville Jaguars have had the most seasons with zero Pro Bowl players (with five since 2010).
Right now, all Commanders fans can hope for is a bit of Week 18 schadenfreude when they host the 11-5 Dallas Cowboys at 4:25 p.m. Eastern time, looking to pull off an upset win over the longtime Lone Star State rivals as a 13-point underdog (per ESPN BET Virginia).
From there, maybe new Commanders owner Josh Harris can turn the tide on what’s been a lost century of professional football in D.C., giving football fans in Washington reason for hope in 2024 and beyond.
