Dan Quinn Sets the Tone: Commanders Look to Build on Gritty Week 13 Performance
Dan Quinn knows exactly where his team stands. The Washington Commanders are 3-9, their playoff hopes long gone, and the season has been anything but smooth. But if you watched their gritty performance against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, you saw something different - something closer to the identity Quinn has been trying to instill since day one.
Washington came up short in that game, no doubt. But it wasn’t the kind of loss that leaves a locker room fractured.
In fact, it may have been the opposite. With a few key veterans back in the lineup and the team finally showing flashes of the physical, disciplined football Quinn preaches, the Commanders looked like a group with something left to fight for.
And that’s exactly what Quinn wants to see.
“It’s really important building those habits for everybody who’s coming back here knowing this is the standard. This is what we like.
It’s not rules; it’s standards, and it’s not something you follow. This is how we do things, and I think that’s a big difference.”
That message - delivered loud and clear to his players - wasn’t about moral victories or silver linings. It was about expectations.
Quinn isn’t interested in excuses, even though he’d have every right to point to the rash of injuries that’s gutted his roster this season. Instead, he’s focused on what’s next: the final five games and the culture he’s trying to cement.
A Locker Room Still United
Despite the record, there’s no sense of a team checking out. Watch the first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks and you’ll see it - a locker room that’s still locked in.
Players are still responding to Quinn’s leadership. They’re still playing for each other.
And that’s not something you can say about every struggling team in December.
That kind of buy-in matters. It’s easy to stay motivated when you’re 9-3 and chasing a playoff bye.
But when you’re 3-9, still showing up with energy and effort? That says something about the character inside the building.
Quinn’s message has been consistent: effort, accountability, and togetherness. And even if the Commanders don’t have the depth or top-end talent of a contender, they’re not folding.
They’re still grinding. And that’s the kind of foundation you need if you’re serious about building something sustainable.
Change Is Coming - But the Standard Remains
Let’s be honest: this roster is going to look very different by the time training camp opens in 2026. That’s just the reality of the NFL, especially for a team in transition. There will be new faces, new roles, and probably some tough decisions along the way.
But Quinn isn’t waiting for the offseason to start laying the groundwork. He’s using these final five games to reinforce exactly what kind of team he wants the Commanders to be - one that plays with pride, resilience, and a clear identity.
The performance against Denver wasn’t perfect, but it showed what this team can be when it plays with urgency and discipline. If they can build on that, even in a lost season, it could serve as a springboard for what comes next.
Looking Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating it: this has been a tough year for Washington. But in a league where things can spiral quickly, the Commanders are still fighting. And that counts for something.
With five games left, the goal isn’t about chasing a miracle playoff push - it’s about stacking good habits, reinforcing the culture, and showing the kind of competitiveness that can carry into next season. That’s what Dan Quinn is preaching. And if Sunday night was any indication, his players are still listening.
The scoreboard didn’t fall their way in Week 13. But the effort?
The resolve? The standard?
That’s something Quinn and the Commanders can build on.