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Just one day after being shredded for 546 total yards (320 alone by QB Jared Goff) in a brutal 44-22 loss to the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Monday he will assume defensive play-calling and effectively take over the coordinator’s responsibilities. The decision comes one week after instructing his defensive coordinator to move from the press box to the sideline and amid a rough stretch in which the defense has been hemorrhaging points; the team has been outscored 179-89 over its last five games. Sunday's loss pushed Washington to 3-7 on the NFL season and added to a five-game losing streak that has exposed systemic breakdowns, specifically on that side of the ball. Read More: Commanders’ Daron Payne Given 1‑Game Ban After Amon-Ra St. Brown Incident With franchise QB Jayden Daniels likely sidelined until December, star WR Terry McLauren having appeared in only four games, and the running back room failing to meet preseason hype, the offense has struggled all season. However, Washington’s defense has been the primary issue. Through the recent stretch, the unit has surrendered big yardage totals to the point where they now rank near the bottom of the league in almost every category: 394.5 total yards allowed per game (third-worst), 260.2 passing yards allowed (second-worst), and 28.0 points allowed (fourth-worst). Read More: Shedeur Sanders Decision Puts Kevin Stefanski on the Hot Seat: Insider Quinn is a veteran defensive coach — architect of the Seattle Seahawks’ early-2010s Cover-3 defenses (Legion of Boom era), former Atlanta Falcons head coach (Super Bowl LI appearance), and recent Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator before Washington hired him in 2024. Hopefully, his track record of success on that side of the ball will help regain some momentum for the Commanders heading into the back half of the season. After Week 10, the Commanders travel to face the Miami Dolphins in Madrid (Week 11), then have a bye before returning vs. the Denver Broncos (Week 13) and a December stretch that includes the Philadelphia Eagles (twice) and the Cowboys. With a 3-7 mark and seven games left, Washington would need to play near-perfect football to reach the playoffs — short odds but not mathematically dead, especially if injuries heal and a coaching change yields defensive improvement.
