The Washington Commanders blew the chance to pick up a much-needed win against the New York Giants. Blowing a 14-point cushion was bad enough, but a laughable final sequence in overtime was simply inexcusable.
And with it, head coach Dan Quinn melted his hot seat.
This was the worst situational management with everything at stake that you'll ever seen. The Commanders were cruising to a field goal attempt to secure success, but they let the clock run down with no urgency whatsoever. Instead of throwing it away or clocking the ball, quarterback Jayden Daniels ran it.
Commanders' inexplicable overtime mess ultimately falls on Dan Quinn
By the time the penny dropped for everyone, it was too late. The Commanders tied, and with the San Francisco 49ers up next on Monday Night Football, there is a real chance Washington will be 1-4-1 at the bye.
It was an unmitigated disaster. There is a lot of blame to go around, but the head coach carries the can.
For someone with Quinn's experience, this was a joke. He should know better, and the communication mixed with an inept lack of awareness cost them in the worst way imaginable.
There isn't much Quinn hasn't seen or done in the game of football. It just looked like nobody knew that the Commanders were out of timeouts, which is simply mind-boggling. Veteran tight end John Bates was the only one moving with any urgency, trying to relay a message to his teammates to no avail.
Time had run out. In a game of inches, the Commanders wilted.
That's on coaching. And Quinn is now fighting against the tide with the Commanders going nowhere fast this season.
Dan Quinn is under severe pressure as Commanders' season unravels
It's one thing after another. The same problems with their second-half defense, constant penalties, and subpar offensive line were ongoing frustrations. But even amid their struggles, they had a chance.
And they came up laughably short.
If the Commanders don't turn things around quickly, Quinn's job status will be shaky at best. Some harsh conversations are needed, and much like at the end of Week 5 at Northwest Stadium, time is running out.
This felt like a loss. The last sequence is something the Commanders should pride themselves on, and it's Quinn's responsibility.
He's the main man. And he's failing right now.
That's the long and short of it. The final play was a microcosm of how things have unfolded for Washington this season. Too many mistakes are being made in crucial moments, and Quinn admitted after the game that it falls on him.
He's right. And if there isn't some miracle run over the next 12 games, the repercussions will be severe.
The Commanders shot themselves in the foot long before this blunder. They collapsed and gave an inferior opponent life when the result should have been out of sight. It'll be a long road back from here, and Quinn knows what comes next if results don't improve.
Quinn needs to get the word into Daniels quicker. The signal-caller needs to be more aware of what's going on, and everyone else must also do their part.
Because whatever they're doing right now just isn't working.
And a campaign that promised much is already threatening to spiral.
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