Dan Quinn was navigating some troubling injury concerns heading into the Washington Commanders' road game against the Atlanta Falcons. It was always going to be difficult, but it didn't take long to realize this was not going to be their day.
The Falcons came out hungry. They'd been shut out by the lowly Carolina Panthers in Week 3, and head coach Raheem Morris wanted to see a response from his players. They duly obliged, and the Commanders had no answer defensively for Atlanta's high-octane attack.
Washington was comprehensively beaten. Don't let the one-score game fool you. Anyone who watched the contest knows this was a one-sided affair. And the Commanders are now sitting at a crossroads with four weeks of the campaign gone.
The Commanders are 2-2. They have some tricky games upcoming, and the injuries continue to pile up. This is arguably more challenging than anything they went through last season. The NFL's oldest roster is already starting to feel the strain.
That is for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are two winners and five losers from the Commanders' ugly defeat at the Falcons.
Winners and losers from the Commanders' ghastly loss against the Falcons
Loser No. 1
Trey Amos - Commanders CB
Rookie second-round cornerback Trey Amos has been a revelation since joining the Washington Commanders. Unfortunately, this was easily his worst performance as an NFL pro to date.
Amos looked lost in the coverage assignments implemented by Joe Whitt Jr. He could solidify his end of the bargain in press-man situations, which was a surprise. The Ole Miss product isn't exceptionally well-suited to zone concepts, and the Falcons had no trouble picking them apart. Throw a couple of disappointing missed tackles into the equation, and the first-year pro won't be looking back on this performance with any great fondness.
Every rookie cornerback goes through growing pains at some stage. It's one of the more challenging transitions, especially compared to positions like wide receiver or running back. Amos is a strong enough character to shake this off and bounce back, but this is all part of the learning experience.
Not many Commanders defenders covered themselves in glory, to be honest. Amos was more disappointing than most, but nobody in the fan base or in the building should be pressing the panic button on a player with immense promise.
Everyone has a bad game, especially in their first year. How Amos responds in the face of adversity will be telling.