Dan Quinn would have been wise not to turn on his television this morning. The Washington Commanders head coach was getting it from every angle for his botched final sequence in an embarrassing tie with the New York Giants, showing just how much pressure is building.
And ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes there could be consequences for this significant failure and one of the worst clock-management plays in NFL history.
It was inexplicable. It was inexcusable. Nobody knew what they were doing. And even though a lot of blame could go elsewhere, the head coach is the head coach for a reason.
Commanders botched final play could have big consequences for Dan Quinn
Quinn should have been more aware of the situation. He should have been telling quarterback Jayden Daniels to clock it or throw it away, regardless of what offensive coordinator David Blough schemed up.
Instead, he sat back and watched it play out, and the Commanders suffered.
Just a disaster all around. And faith is rapidly being lost in Quinn's ability to take the Commanders where they want to go.
Fans are already calling for Quinn to be fired. Some reporters and analysts are, too. The final play was the tipping point, but things have been unraveling for more than a year.
Blame injuries if you want, but everyone gets them. Teams find ways to make it work, and the Commanders are falling further behind the chasing pack than ever.
Commanders may not fire Dan Quinn in-season, but after 2026 is a different story
During ESPN's morning debate show Get Up, Schefter said there may be "consequences" for the Commanders' latest failure at Northwest Stadium. Just when that will be is the big question, but it does seem as if Quinn's time in Washington will end if results don't improve.
“I would imagine in time there’s going to be consequences from this game.”
This was disjointed. There was no urgency or cohesion — two things every team needs in crunch time. Quinn took responsibility, but he also took veiled swipes at Daniels and Blough for how they handled the situation.
But he's the head coach.
If you don't like it, do something about it. With 55 seconds on the clock after Washington's first-down play, he could have easily made his voice heard.
Quinn shrank. He stood idly by and let things unfold. And an unmitigated disaster followed.
The dejection and frustration came out, but nobody cared. This damage was self-inflicted, and Quinn has nobody to blame but himself.
Daniels and Blough should have done more, too. But someone with Quinn's experience should have taken charge.
He's not running the defense anymore, and he certainly isn't running the offense. His primary responsibilities are clock management, leadership, and making sure everyone is aware of every situation at all times.
And he fell woefully short.
It would be a bombshell of epic proportions if the Commanders fired Quinn midseason. Both coordinators are first-time play-callers in the NFL. Someone like running backs coach Anthony Lynn could step in as interim, but there is no guarantee anything would improve.
After the campaign is a different story.
And when the time comes to decide Quinn's future, this unfathomable moment will no doubt be at the forefront of conversations.
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