Dan Quinn's postgame comments make Commanders' loss to Eagles sting even more than it already does
At one point late in third quarter, it looked like Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders were on track to pull of some more late-game magic.Daniels and Co. scored a touchdown then converted a two-point conversion that cut the Philadelphia Eagles' lead to 11-points and then the defense forced a punt on the subsequent drive. […]
At one point late in third quarter, it looked like Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders were on track to pull of some more late-game magic.
Daniels and Co. scored a touchdown then converted a two-point conversion that cut the Philadelphia Eagles' lead to 11-points and then the defense forced a punt on the subsequent drive. All of a sudden, either a touchdown or field goal cuts the game to a one-score possession heading into the fourth quarter and we all know how that usually turns out for the Commanders.
Disaster struck, instead. Veteran running back Austin Ekeler fumbled the ball on a 1st and 10 dump-off around midfield and the Eagles recovered it. At that point, it was the Commanders' third fumble of the game and it basically took any remaining wind out of their sails.
It was such a tough moment. For starters, Ekeler is one of the team's leaders and is one of the NFL's more benevolent players. He's a good guy and that moment is certainly going to stick with him for a while. In a team sense, though, everyone felt like things were starting to shift their way until they watched it slip through their fingers.
"Yes. We kind of talked at the half. This is going to be grimy [and] we're going to fight back into it," Dan Quinn told reporters when asked if he felt like the Commanders were back in it after the punt. "That's the life that we've kind of lived this season. So we were comfortable in those tight spots. And so we thought, okay, it's about to turn, it's about to turn. And so they got their takeaway during that next one. But I felt the shift happen."
Quinn's comments only add to the question of what could've been and the disappointment is completely tangible – if it weren't for the fumbles, especially Ekeler's, then the Commanders are totally in the game. All three fumbles led to Eagles touchdowns and PATs that gave them an additional 21-points.
Sure, the defense could've made stops, but the offense and special teams (fumbled kick return) also put it in bad spots. Even more so when considering two of the three fumbles gave Philly starting field position in Washington territory at the 48- and 24-yard lines- and the third was basically at midfield. That's tough for any defense to overcome.
The Commanders had their chances, but ultimately, they just couldn't get it done. And while the Eagles certainly deserve their share of the credit, Washington certainly deserves its share of the blame and its something the coaches and players are going to have chew on all offseason.
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