If you’re among the upset Washington Commanders’ fans, Cookie Johnson has a message of hope for you. Like her husband, Magic Johnson, she has been a witness and companion of the Commanders’ journey this season. So the NFC upset, after Commanders’ 55-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, has to hurt her equally badly. But even in the face of loss, Cookie Johnson is not ignoring the positives that arose from this season for the Commanders.

“Even with our loss yesterday, I’m still so proud of the Commanders and how much we accomplished this season! This is only the beginning,” Cookie wrote. It’s the kind of optimism every fan needs right now, isn’t it?

After all, it’s not every season you see such significant progress. Cookie’s belief in the team’s potential for greater success is contagious, and it makes you wonder—could this really be just the start?

Magic, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his emotions. He shared he was “mad” about the loss, which probably resonates with every fan watching the Commanders’ season end this way. But even in his frustration, Magic Johnson’s class showed through as he congratulated the Eagles for advancing to the Super Bowl.

“I hate losing so I’m mad that my Commanders lost, but congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles for advancing to the Super Bowl…” the Los Angeles Lakers legend wrote. Still, he didn’t leave fans hanging. “The [Commanders] are back!” Magic declared, thanking the players, coaches, fans, and his partners for a good season.

The positivity despite the loss is understandable considering the disappointing run Commanders had last season. Fans of Washington would remember the team closing last season at a losing streak of 8 games. No wonder the franchise underwent significant changes: the appointment of new head coach Dan Quinn and the addition of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Magic Johnson reveals the reason behind Commanders’ loss against Eagles

When the Commanders faced the Eagles in the conference game, it was a clash that hadn’t been seen between such rivals since 1990. But instead of a close contest, Washington fell apart, losing 55-23. If you’re wondering what went wrong, Magic Johnson, the team’s minority owner, put it plainly: fumbles and penalties.

Mistakes like these can be devastating in games of this magnitude, and the Commanders paid the price. Johnson didn’t hold back in his analysis, pointing to the team’s struggles with ball security. Imagine turning the ball over four times—that’s four chances handed to a team as dangerous as the Eagles.

“… My Commanders hurt our chances of winning the game today with 3 fumbles and too many penalties…” Johnson wrote on X. Even in his disappointment, the Lakers legend took time to appreciate the players and coaches for an otherwise terrific season.

And what about Jayden Daniels? The rookie quarterback gave it everything he had, completing 29 of 48 passes for 255 yards and scoring one touchdown. It’s hard not to root for a rookie on the brink of making history. But even his best efforts couldn’t overcome the Commanders’ costly mistakes. You have to give credit where it’s due, though.

Philadelphia didn’t just take advantage—they made history. By scoring 55 points, they set a playoff milestone, the most since the Jaguars’ 62-7 blowout against the Dolphins in 2000. Moments like these remind us why postseason football is so unpredictable and so thrilling. Meanwhile, all that the Commanders fans have as of now is high hopes for the next season, as pointed out by Cookie Johnson.