Dan Quinn kept his job despite the Washington Commanders' inexcusable final play sequence to tie with the New York Giants. But just how long the head coach has to turn things around is much less clear.
Pressure is clearly building on Quinn. The Commanders are in a precarious situation just five games into the campaign, and any further failures will not be tolerated. Some fans have already given up, but the coach remains defiant.
Quinn was furious after the Commanders' inept clock management at Northwest Stadium. He vowed it would never happen again, but that won't be hard considering it's rarely happened in NFL history.
NFL circles are wondering how much time Commanders will give Dan Quinn
The natives are getting restless. Quinn knows it, and he also knows what will probably happen if the Commanders don't salvage something from the campaign. But worrying about that is only going to hurt his chances.
It's business as usual until Quinn is told otherwise.
Washington will be under more scrutiny than ever. The last thing Quinn needs is the prime-time glare against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. And if the Commanders' losing run continues, rumors of his demise will only grow over the bye week.
Majority partner Josh Harris is patient, but only so far. And even though he didn't make an emotional move with Quinn after Sunday's debacle, people around the league are already wondering just when the tipping point will arrive.
After conversations around the league, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler thought Quinn would get time to right the ship, but just how much is unclear. How the Commanders look coming off such a major mishap could determine the timeline.
"While Commanders owner Josh Harris couldn't have been pleased with the handling of the final seconds, he did not react by firing (Dan) Quinn, and some people I've talked to believe Quinn will get some time to turn things around, though how much is uncertain.
"This is a blemish on Quinn's résumé that he will have to overcome. How Washington looks coming off the blunder could be a key data point, too."
The Niners look like a Super Bowl favorite through five weeks. Expecting the Commanders to win on the road is a stretch, which makes the bye week pivotal.
Dan Quinn is still fighting, and the Commanders are giving him a chance
Things don't get any easier after that.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Giants, and Cincinnati Bengals are on the schedule when Washington returns, and the margin for error will be nonexistent.
It's now or never for the Commanders. And they can ill-afford another year of quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract falling by the wayside.
That would reflect poorly on Quinn. And it might even speed up his departure.
The Commanders are giving Quinn a shot. Harris believes he owes the respected figure that courtesy, and they have developed a close relationship over the last three years.
He did the same with Ron Rivera. Quinn will be aiming to avoid a similar fate, but it isn't looking especially promising right now.
Quinn is down, but he's not out yet. But the next few weeks will have significant ramifications one way or another.
And we'll know for sure what Quinn is really made of.
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