The Commanders are coming out of the bye with the season sitting in a strange place: one win in six tries, but still alive in the NFC East race. That only makes sense because the division around them has been so battered by injuries and so sloppy on defense that Washington can still hang around despite an ugly start.
That’s the backdrop Dan Quinn addressed Monday, and he didn’t try to sugarcoat it.
“As difficult and frustrated as we are, there’s also a golden opportunity this year in our division, and it’s gonna take the whole year,” head coach Dan Quinn said in his Monday press conference. “And so, I think they know that, and they’re gonna fight their ass off every time to make sure, we’re gonna give ourselves the best chance to do that.
“It’s my job as the coach to set the whole thing to say environment, strategy of how to go about taking that on after this b ye, and I’m very much looking forward to doing it with these guys. Like, I absolutely believe in them.”
Washington’s path back into the division conversation is straightforward: it has to start winning, and it has to start now. The Commanders have gone 0-2-1 against their top NFC East rivals, so the margin for error is already razor thin. Out of the bye, five big questions hang over the rest of the season.
First, can Jayden Daniels catch fire?
Daniels has already shown the kind of dazzling moments that can change a game, but none of them have produced a win yet. Washington’s only victory came in Week 3, when Marcus Mariota started against the Seattle Seahawks.
That’s a sharp turn from Daniels’ rookie year, when the Commanders went 8-4 in one-score games and leaned heavily on his late-game playmaking. This season, Washington is 0-2-1 in one-score games with Daniels under center, even though he’s done enough late to keep the team in it.
The tie against the New York Giants and the loss to the 49ers both left the Commanders wanting more, and Daniels’ situational awareness in the 49ers game cost Washington dearly. If this season is going to turn, it probably starts with Daniels getting hot and staying hot.
The defense is the next major issue, and Daronte Jones has work to do there.
There is some real promise in the scheme, especially in the pressure package, but it only works if several things happen at once. The defense has to communicate cleanly before the snap, the back end has to hold up in short windows, and the pass rush has to finish.
Washington has struggled with all three at different points, and it has also had trouble adjusting when opponents counter. That’s part of why the second half has been such a problem.
Jones has tried to sharpen communication, but the Commanders still need more impact from the front, better run defense and fewer explosive plays allowed.
Then there’s the run game, which has not done enough to help anyone.
Washington just put Bill Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve with a groin injury that has bothered him since the summer, and that has clearly affected his efficiency. Now the burden shifts to Rachaad White.
The rushing numbers look better than they really are because of quarterback runs, but the backs are averaging only 3.64 yards per carry. That’s not enough, especially when the run blocking has also been shaky.
The problems are especially noticeable inside, where the foundation of the ground game is supposed to come from. The commitment is there, but the production hasn’t followed.
Washington needs tougher yards and more third-and-manageable situations, and if the traditional run game can’t get there, the short passing game may have to help replace it on some downs.
The pass rush is another area that has to improve fast.
Washington is averaging 1.8 sacks per game, which ranks No. 21.
The pressure rate is better at 24%, which has been helped by the number of bodies the defense sends. The standard they’re chasing is Minnesota, where Brian Flores’ defense leads the league at a 36.7% pressure rate.
Washington isn’t there yet, and there’s a learning curve with the system. But the bigger concern is what happens after the pressure gets created.
The back end still has to hold up, and nobody is walking through that door to rescue it. Odafe Oweh, Dorance Armstrong and Joshua Josephs need to start finishing plays with regularity.
And finally, there’s the question hovering over Quinn himself.
Calls for him to be fired in-season have already started, and they grew louder after the brutal Week 5 tie that many viewed as a complete game-management failure. Still, Washington’s rally against the 49ers and the timing of the bye have made it more likely Quinn gets the chance to keep steering this thing.
It would take a major collapse over the next several weeks to change that. More than anything, this is about scheme and execution.
The Commanders need continuity, repetition and better command of what they’re already doing. Starting over would not help the quarterback, and keeping Quinn means keeping the coordinators in place as well.
In Other News...
Adam Peters Framed Washingtons Coaching Response In A Telling Way
The Commanders used their bye week to take stock after the loss to the 49ers, and general manager Adam Peters radio appearance offered a clearer picture of how the organization is handling the uneven stretch. Peters addressed the teams recent performance and the coaching side of things, while also confirming a move on defense that had been expected behind the scenes for some time.
What stood out most was the lack of drama around the staff during the break. There were no sweeping changes, and Dan Quinn is still expected to remain as head coach through the end of the season, which keeps the structure intact for now. The real question for Washington is how much the recent adjustment on defense can help steady things as the schedule resumes. [Read more 🡒]
Terry McLaurin Is Already Showing Commanders What Comes Next
Terry McLaurins season ended with a knee injury that will send him into a long rehabilitation, but the Commanders are already seeing the part of his value that goes beyond Sundays. General manager Adam Peters spoke about McLaurins leadership and the way he has handled the setback, noting the receivers steady presence and positive approach even as the injury changed the shape of Washingtons season.
Peters also made clear that McLaurin intends to remain a resource for the locker room while he recovers, which matters for a young team still sorting out its next steps at receiver. The on-field production is now on hold, but the mentoring piece may become a bigger part of McLaurins role in the months ahead, giving Washington a veteran voice it can lean on while the roster keeps evolving around him. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found A Defensive Cornerstone At The Perfect Time
Sonny Styles has already given Washington plenty to like in the opening stretch of his rookie season, and the praise has started to come from outside the building. ESPN analyst Domonique Foxworth singled out the linebacker for his mental acumen and the way he has performed through the first six weeks, a notable endorsement for a player the Commanders are counting on to grow into a central piece of the defense.
What makes that kind of attention matter is the way Styles has filled up the stat sheet while learning on the fly, showing impact in coverage, around the line of scrimmage and as a disruptive presence. Foxworth even drew a comparison to four-time All-Pro Fred Warner, which is the kind of company that usually comes with expectations as much as praise, and it leaves Washington with a promising question: how high can Styles climb once his rookie season settles in? [Read more 🡒]