Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after his teamâs emphatic 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, and his message centered on resilience, complementary football, and execution. Quinn said the team answered the challenge he issued following last weekâs disappointing loss to Green Bay.
âAfter last game, we spoke about complementary football and where we missed some opportunities,â Quinn said in his opening statement. âThis week, we didnât miss on those chances, and thatâs really important to pass the baton to the next group.â
Special teams set the tone early, as wide receiver Jaylin Lane scored on a punt return and Deebo Samuel Sr. produced a long kick return that resulted in another touchdown. Quinn credited those explosive plays for shifting momentum. âWhen you can capitalize and win on field position, those are winning football moments,â Quinn said. âWhen you do it, the results almost write themselves.â
Quinn also laughed off a sideline collision that left him momentarily shaken. âWe all had a good laugh about it for sure,â he joked. Doctors evaluated him at halftime, but he quickly returned to the sideline. âThey had too many people around. I said, go take care of the guys,â he added.
Mariota Leads, Depth Players Shine
The veteran quarterbackâs performance impressed his head coach. âI was pleased,â Quinn said of Marcus Mariota. âHe felt very much in control. Aggressive run, pass stuff, scrambling, being aggressive. Heâs just so steady. I was super proud of him.â Mariota responded to an early fumble by remaining calm and delivering a clean, balanced game.
Quinn highlighted the contributions of depth players and young talent. Running back Jeremy McNichols broke free for a long touchdown run, while Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt delivered a critical blitz pickup that Quinn said âtakes confidence to go and be there.â The coach praised the teamâs roster depth, noting that several players stepped in after not playing in Week 2.
He emphasized competition as a core value when discussing the decision to sit guard Brandon Coleman. âCompetitionâs part of who we are in all ways,â Quinn explained. âThis is what weâre doing right today, and weâll keep digging.â
Defense Played Big and Created Pressure
On defense, Quinn praised the Commandersâ ability to pressure Raiders quarterback Geno Smith. âWe had to get the pressure on this guy,â Quinn said. âHe can absolutely rip the ball, but I was pleased to see the groupâs effort and mindset.â
Quinn also spoke highly of linebacker Bobby Wagnerâs leadership, saying, âHow would you not want to go fight for guys like him? Heâs one of a kind.â
Quinn closed his presser by stressing the importance of complementary football and the confidence the victory instills moving forward. âWe werenât happy after last week,â he said. âBut we made the adjustments. That energy and resilience carried over from the opening play. This team is proving it can deliver in all three phases when it matters.â
The Commanders now stand at 2-1, with their Week 3 win showcasing the depth, discipline, and competitive mindset Quinn has worked to instill. Fans can expect that same aggressive, opportunistic style as Washington prepares for its next challenge.
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