Dan Quinn isn’t interested in excuses after Washington’s 24-22 season-opening loss in Philadelphia.
The Commanders coach met with reporters Monday and got right to the point when the discussion turned to the defense, which was productive for long stretches but still allowed too many damaging plays. Washington finished with 10 tackles for loss and three sacks of Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles still hit big gains of 64, 43, 42, 41 and 22 yards.
That list included a brutal sequence in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia faced third-and-18 at its own 31, and Hurts broke free for 22 yards and a first down on the way to the Eagles’ final score, a 24-16 lead at the time. Washington also gave up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert after the Eagles had been in a third-and-goal situation from the 17.
When asked about the breakdowns, Quinn said, “I thought there’s some lessons (learned),” he said. “Hopefully it’s like, 'don’t touch the stove.’
Like we thought there was a penalty for a false start, and it wasn’t. Then you finish it out.
You finish the play; that was one example.”
He was referring to the final Eagles touchdown, on a play where the left tackle appeared to move before the snap.
Quinn pointed to several moments he felt summed up the issue, including a long quarterback scramble in which two Washington pass rushers ended up on the ground and out of the play. He also mentioned another explosive gain that went to Mike's (Sainristil) side.
“There was a long quarterback scramble where we had two pass rushers that were on the ground into that space. So, finishing plays.
There was one long one; it didn’t end up being a touchdown, but it was an explosive (play) to Mike's (Sainristil) side. Those are three that stand out.
Just having the readiness. I loved the attitude, the mindset to have.
But to have ‘there are no plays off, except for this one.’ So, to always be in that finishing stature and mindset.
I think that was the big lesson for me.”
For Quinn, the message was simple: Washington has to finish better, and he wasn’t soft-pedaling the missed opportunities. “You got to point those out because you don’t get to play the ‘except for’ game.”
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