The Washington Commanders may have walked away from Week 13 with another loss on the record - their seventh straight - but for a team that’s been stuck in the mud for two months, this one felt different. They went toe-to-toe with a 10-2 Denver Broncos squad, pushed the game into overtime, and came within a two-point conversion of pulling off a major upset.
That final play didn’t go their way, but the energy? That’s shifting.
Let’s start with the obvious: Terry McLaurin is back, and he reminded everyone exactly what he’s capable of. After missing time, the Commanders’ top wideout returned with his best performance of the season - crisp routes, contested catches, and the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but resonates in the huddle. His presence alone gave the offense a different rhythm.
And while Marcus Mariota did throw a backbreaking interception - one that he’ll be replaying in his head for days - the Commanders largely cleaned up the kind of self-inflicted wounds that have haunted them all year. Fewer penalties, more discipline, and a team that looked like it belonged on the same field as one of the AFC’s best.
The playoffs are likely out of reach at this point, but the Commanders are starting to look like a team with a pulse again - and that’s no small thing.
Inside the Locker Room: Dan Quinn Still Has the Wheel
If there were any lingering questions about whether Dan Quinn had lost the locker room, the debut episode of Hard Knocks: In-Season with the NFC East put that to rest.
The cameras gave fans a window into the postgame speech following the Sunday night loss, and Quinn’s message was short, raw, and real: “We lost, but we’re not lost anymore.”
That line hit home. It wasn’t just a soundbite - it was a signal.
A coach acknowledging the pain, but also pointing to the path forward. And if the players’ reactions were any indication, they’re still all-in.
Quinn isn’t sugarcoating the situation. He knows the standard hasn’t been met.
That’s why he made the bold move to demote defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and take over play-calling duties himself. It wasn’t just symbolic - it was strategic.
And over the last two games, we’ve seen the defense respond. More aggression, better communication, and fewer breakdowns.
Meanwhile, the roster is slowly getting healthier, which only adds to the sense that this team is turning a corner - even if it’s too late to salvage a playoff push.
This Team Isn’t Checking Out
This doesn’t look like a group that’s counting down the days until the offseason. There’s no “Cancún on 3” energy here. What we’re seeing is a team still fighting, still scrapping, and still playing for pride - and for each other.
That matters. Because while 2025 has been a season full of gut punches, it’s also been a crucible. A year that’s forced this group to look inward, to confront the hard truths, and to figure out who they are when things aren’t going their way.
Last season, everything clicked. The vibes were high, the wins came often, and Quinn rode the wave of a rejuvenated roster.
This year? He’s had to earn every inch.
He’s had to make tough calls, shoulder the blame, and lead through the kind of adversity that tests a coach’s mettle.
But here’s the thing: he’s still standing. And so are his players.
Looking Ahead
There’s no sugarcoating the record. But in a league where locker rooms can fracture fast, where losing streaks often lead to finger-pointing and checked-out performances, the Commanders are showing something different: resolve.
They’re not where they want to be, but they’re not lost. And that, more than anything, is why there’s still reason to believe this team is building toward something bigger - even if it won’t fully take shape until 2026.