The Washington Commanders' defense has taken its fair share of lumps this season, but there's finally a flicker of progress-and it’s coming at just the right time. In the four games before Dan Quinn assumed defensive play-calling duties, Washington was giving up a staggering 38.5 points per game. That stretch came against some of the NFL’s top-tier quarterbacks-guys who currently rank second, third, sixth, and seventh in total passing yards-so it wasn’t exactly a soft landing for Quinn.
But over the last two weeks, there’s been a noticeable shift. The defense has cut its points-allowed average by 17, a massive improvement no matter how you slice it.
One injured starter returned to the lineup, and others are finally settling into their roles. The Commanders still lost both games in overtime, but the defense is no longer the glaring liability it was earlier in the year.
Now, they’ve got a golden opportunity to keep that momentum rolling as they face a Minnesota Vikings offense that’s been anything but stable. After weeks of battling elite quarterbacks, Washington gets a much more manageable assignment: J.J. McCarthy.
The former Michigan standout, who went No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft-eight spots after Washington selected Jayden Daniels-has had a brutal start to his NFL career. He missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus, and this year hasn’t gone much better. He’s been sidelined for half the season with injuries and, when he has played, he’s looked every bit like a quarterback still trying to find his footing in the pros.
Even with a solid supporting cast around him, McCarthy’s numbers are tough to look at. He’s completing just 54 percent of his passes and throwing interceptions at a 6.3 percent clip-both marks that would rank dead last among qualified starters.
His touchdown-to-interception ratio is upside-down, his sack rate is among the worst in the league, and his adjusted yards per attempt is near rock bottom. In short, he hasn’t shown he’s ready to lead an NFL offense.
That’s music to the ears of veteran defensive coordinators like Quinn, who know how to dial up pressure and confusion for inexperienced quarterbacks. Longtime Commanders fans will remember how Richie Petitbon used to feast on rookies. Quinn has a similar opportunity here.
The secondary is finally showing signs of life. Starting safety Will Harris is back in the mix, which helps shore up the short passing game.
Mike Sainristil is looking more comfortable on the outside, Jonathan Jones is starting to resemble his old self, and Noah Igbinoghene has been active in the slot. There’s a sense of cohesion that simply wasn’t there earlier in the season.
Up front, Quinn has found a pass-rush package that works-even if it’s unconventional. He’s gone with a smaller, speed-heavy group featuring 245-pound Jacob Martin on the inside and linebackers Von Miller and Frankie Luvu coming off the edges. It’s not a traditional look, but it’s been Washington’s most effective combo since Dorance Armstrong Jr. went down.
One of the biggest developments has been the emergence of rookie linebacker Jordan Magee. The former Temple star has stepped up in a big way, giving Quinn the flexibility to unleash Luvu as a pass-rusher. Magee might be playing his way into an every-down role sooner rather than later.
Then there’s Minnesota’s offensive line, which has been a mess all year. Last week, they were completely overwhelmed by Seattle’s front. And with several key players still questionable heading into this weekend, the door is wide open for Washington’s defense to control the line of scrimmage.
Statistically, the Vikings’ offense has been among the league’s worst. They're sixth-worst in yards per play, fifth-worst in total points, and fourth-worst in total yards. That’s not just a struggling unit-it’s one that’s ripe for the picking.
For a Commanders defense that’s been searching for answers, this matchup could be the perfect storm. If Dan Quinn’s group is going to turn the corner, this is the game to do it.