It was do-or-die for the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Dan Quinn remains under severe pressure to keep his job, and the talk of improvements had to translate into a strong performance in front of their home fans.
The Commanders had the upper hand, which is strange to say for a 1-4-1 team going through some real turmoil. That's because Philadelphia had lost five straight contests, was missing some key personnel, and running back Saquon Barkley was far from 100 percent.
The stars had seemingly aligned. Couple this with the Commanders coming off their bye week with extra time to rest and prepare, and it wasn't hard to see why the fans at Northwest Stadium were so expectant.
As it turned out, the Commanders secured the win. It was ugly, but the result is all that mattered with seats getting increasingly warm in Washington.
With that in mind, here are 11 instant reactions from Washington's prime-time triumph in Week 8.
Instant reactions from the Washington Commanders' win against the Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders' sloppy start
Fans expected the Commanders to come out flying, with aggression and improved conviction. Instead, they got the same lackluster production they saw before the bye week.
The Commanders just didn't look ready. Whether it was the pressure of prime time or having to shake off some rust, it's anyone's guess, but things didn't click in the opening exchanges. And the Eagles, desperately looking for signs of life, seized the initiative.
A costly turnover by tight end Chig Okonkwo led to a score by running back Saquon Barkley, giving the Eagles a 10-point cushion. It was an unacceptable start to the contest and a far cry from what Quinn promised.
Penalty issues continued
One of the most frustrating flaws before the bye week was how many penalties the Commanders conceded over their opening six contests. Dan Quinn shared that frustration and promised a more functional operation when they returned from their extended rest.
He was wrong. The Commanders' early efforts were blighted by infringements they could have avoided, and it didn't take long for the boos to ring out from the stands at Northwest Stadium.
The Commanders eventually finished the game with nine penalties for 70 yards. And Quinn and the coaches' bold claims just weren't backed up by the players again.
Make of that what you will.
Shy Tuttle stepped up
With Daron Payne out for the season and Javon Kinlaw missing the game with a knee injury, the Commanders lacked legitimate options on their 3-4 defensive front. But for Shy Tuttle, it was a chance to showcase what he could do from an elevated role.
He made the most of it.
Tuttle is enjoying a quiet career renaissance this season. This was arguably his best performance since joining the Commanders late last season, with the interior force becoming a commanding presence against the run while also generating pressure in the backfield when opportunities arose.
And with Payne done for the year, the Commanders will rely heavily on Tuttle for the rest of the way.
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