It was another defensive capitulation from the Washington Commanders in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. Joe Whitt Jr.'s move from the booth to the sidelines didn't have the desired effect, and the calls from fans to remove the coordinator from the equation are now deafening.
What good that would do with seven relatively meaningless games remaining this season is anyone's guess, but things cannot continue like this for much longer.
Unsurprisingly, questions about possible coaching changes almost immediately came up during Quinn's postgame media availability. The coach once again declared that nothing was imminent, but with a slight twist attached this time.
Commanders will make harsh assessments during their Week 12 bye
Quinn said that he wasn't there yet regarding what more he could do to turn things around. Attention moves swiftly to Washington's international contest against the Miami Dolphins in Spain, which is understandable. However, the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator hinted that everything will be evaluated strongly during the bye week.
Dan Quinn said immediately following that game he hasn’t had time to consider what changes need to be made. He said tunnel vision on the Madrid game and then the bye week pic.twitter.com/JdZKmy1pMR
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 10, 2025
That's the first time Quinn has put a timeline on anything regarding alterations. He's been adamant that no coaching alterations would occur during the season, and that might still be the case. But if Whitt cannot galvanize his troops against a Dolphins team that just put up 30 points on the Buffalo Bills, his time in Washington could end early.
It's not looking good. This defense is slow, sloppy, and without a legitimate spark. There is a lot of bark with no bite. Discipline issues have stemmed from the frustration, which will also see Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne suspended for Week 11 after throwing a punch at Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, leading to his ejection.
The tape doesn't lie — neither do the stats — when it comes to the Commanders' defensive deficiencies. Whitt is running out of chances. Quinn might be waiting for the right time to fire someone he respects. And with Washington's roster set to embark on its extended period of rest in Week 12, that could be the perfect opportunity to pull the plug.
Quinn needs to take charge. The Commanders are spiraling out of control. The injuries haven't exactly helped, but every team has to cope with them. This defense is outmatched, unprepared, and unable to adjust. That's a recipe for complete disaster, and it's showing up every week with the spotlight glaring.
Whitt's days are numbered. It's just a matter of whether Quinn decides to do it during the bye week or wait until the season's end.
And after the Commanders' latest drubbing, it could legitimately go either way.