Another season has come and gone, taking with it the promise and pain that comes with being a Washington football fan.
One difference this year — the promise came at the end of the season, not the beginning.
Around here, the optimism of September is usually long dead by January. But on Sunday, even though the Washington Commanders were playing a meaningless game to close out another mediocre season, there was a sense of hope in the stands at FedEx Field as the final seconds ticked away.
The team has holes all over the roster, a big question mark at quarterback and a coach who seems to be overmatched by the demands facing the franchise, but hope flickered nonetheless.