Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 6-2 start in 2024
By Dean Jones
Commanders vs. Cowboys - Week 12
- Date: Sunday, November 24
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
This game will mean more to head coach Dan Quinn. It also happens to be a storied rivalry between two fierce adversaries within the NFC East.
The Washington Commanders haven't emerged from their recent clashes against the Dallas Cowboys with much credit. They were blown out constantly throughout Ron Rivera's tenure. It's time this narrative changed and nobody will know more about how to counteract their threats than Quinn.
Quinn, together with several Washington staff members, spent years in Dallas. They enjoyed tremendous success and nurtured some players into top-tier performers. One only has to look at the Cowboys' defensive regression since his departure to see that.
It didn't take long for Quinn to become the scapegoat once he took the Commanders' head coaching job. He was seen as the weak link and the root of all their problems. But looking at how things are unraveling in Dallas currently, their complications run much deeper.
Their defense couldn't stop a nosebleed right now. They are soft in the middle and one of the league's worst run defenses for good measure. Dallas' offense doesn't have a ground game and their once-vaunted offensive line is getting bullied in the trenches. That's a dangerous mix that isn't exactly a recipe for success.
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones is on the back foot for the way he handled matters throughout the offseason. The Cowboys dithered on contract extensions and claimed they didn't have enough money to sign Derrick Henry. This is music to the ears of every NFC East adversary, especially considering he's not going to relinquish power anytime soon.
This is a game the Commanders can win. They cannot become daunted by the challenge. There should also be plenty of extra motivation for the players, who'll be giving their all to provide Quinn with bragging rights versus his old employers.
- Prediction: Commanders win (9-3)
If the Commanders found themselves at 9-3 with their bye week in sight, it would be a remarkable accomplishment. One nobody thought possible before the campaign, but things look a lot different now.
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