The scene at Northwest Stadium for the Washington Commanders' divisional rivalry clash with the Dallas Cowboys typified their season. Stands weren't exactly at full capacity, and the same glaring problems that have held head coach Dan Quinn's squad back throughout the campaign reared their head en route to a 12th loss of 2025.
For a team that was expected to mount another deep playoff run, this represents a disaster of epic proportions. Quinn's job is not under threat right now, but if massive improvements aren't made during the offseason and into the 2026 campaign, seats are going to get warm across the board in Washington.
The Cowboys aren't playing for much, either. But they took an early lead and never relinquished it, despite the Commanders fighting until the end. Everything seemed to be against Quinn's under-strength team, and there is only one more game to navigate before the investigation into what went wrong and what measures could be implemented to improve performance begins.
It's a nervy time for players. The same goes for some of the coaching staff, especially if Quinn fires defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as expected. The atmosphere at Northwest Stadium signified that the fan base had already given up on the season. But what comes next for this ambitious project is of the utmost importance.
Before then, here are three winners and four losers from Washington's painful defeat to its most hated rival.
Winners and losers from the Commanders' painful Christmas loss to the Cowboys
Loser No. 1
Quan Martin - Commanders S
It's easy to make Quan Martin a scapegoat. His underperformance when a breakout campaign was expected is a microcosm of how things have unfolded for the Washington Commanders this season. And he won't want to look back on Week 17 for too long, that's for sure.
Martin remains a weak link on Washington's backend defense. His positional sense in coverage support is nowhere near the required standard. He's hesitant and technically flawed in the tackling department, which opposing offenses exploit with alarming success. This was another glimpse of his failures throughout the campaign, which won't go unnoticed by those in positions of power when the time comes to assess the roster.
The 2023 second-round pick out of Illinois might get the chance to stick around on the final year of his rookie deal. However, that shouldn't prevent the Commanders from finding the upgrades they need to put his starting spot in serious doubt.
This isn't what anyone envisaged for Martin, but the flaws are undeniable.