Dan Quinn speaks to the media before practice
Dan Quinn spoke to reporters before today’s practice in the bubble. The team is preparing for their third game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and they’re looking to win the series and clinch their first playoff birth in 33 years. Quinn talked about Jayden Daniels ability to play in the big moments and make big plays. The team has been viewed as underdogs throughout the playoffs, but that’s not how they view themselves, and Quinn admits it pissed him off when people were looking past them. To win at this level, it takes fundamentals and execution, something the Lions lacked in their loss to Washington last week.
Dan Quinn
LIVE: HC Dan Quinn speaks to the media to kick off NFC Championship week https://t.co/vqR9edh9Ym
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2025
RIP Pete Medhurst:
Dan Quinn opened his presser by offering his condolences to the family of Pete Medhurst. “I didn’t get the chance to work with him, but it sounds like he was a real football guy and I would’ve liked that.”https://t.co/BZAazCw1pI
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 22, 2025
Getting stronger:
Dan Quinn: ” We’re getting stronger as we grow. … Our team has a lot of joyful intensity about us. … That’s a rare combination.”
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels:
Dan Quinn on how Jayden Daniels’s early morning workouts is paying off. pic.twitter.com/Cb5hSj8ke9
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 22, 2025
Dan Quinn addressing the media. Said Jayden Daniels has rare “in the moment” skills that have helped the team get to this point. Doesn’t want to look at the historical implications. They’re just focused on how that can help this week
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Fundamentals and execution:
Quinn: “These runs are built on fundamentals, execution & finishing, not new schemes…
Our team’s got a lot of joyful intensity… it’s not rare to see guys attacking the sh** out of somebody or something and seeing huge joyful smiles on their faces”@JPFinlayNBCS#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/vQDhPKNUts
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) January 22, 2025
Love this from Dan Quinn ahead of the NFC Title Game: ‘These runs are built on fundamentals and execution, not new schemes.’
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 22, 2025
Underdogs:
The Washington Commanders are considered the “underdogs” in this game against Philly.
I asked Dan Quinn about that today.
He said, “it’s not a prove it to everybody else or an underdog story…it’s not a seven game series. We got to play our best at Sunday at 3 o’clock pic.twitter.com/yj2jvCSVfQ
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Quinn on being the underdogs outside the building: “We don’t let the outside narrative drive it.”
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 22, 2025
Quinn: “It’s not a prove-it-to-everybody else or underdog story. … It’s not a 7-game series; we have to play our best Sunday.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Did we feel dismissed or put off, yeah… I think that happened in the opening game…hey man hang in there it’s gonna be a long time…I was like hey, FU, that’s not how it’s gonna go down.
Vic Fangio’s defense:
Quinn said the Eagles’ defense has a really deep crew of rushers. Vic Fangio does a good job of mixing the rush with the coverage to create new looks
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Dan Quinn: “Vic [Fangio]’s excellent in terms of mixing the right front, the right coverage. He makes it challenging for play-callers to go against.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 22, 2025
Replacing Sam Cosmi:
Quinn said there’s been a lot of thought about how to replace Cosmi at RG. The next three days will play a big role in that
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Quinn said with the OL, with Sam Cosmi out the goal is to just get the five best on the field Sunday. “What’s the best thing for us to win this game,” he said.
He gave a shoutout to Trent Scott for filling in at RG vs. the Lions.— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Dan Quinn was vague when asked about the OL, of course, but said he’s given thought to getting his five best on the field.
Commanders have some big decisions to make. Trent Scott at RG? Move Andrew Wylie from RT and replace him with Cornelius Lucas? pic.twitter.com/HmjtIWBkSV
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 22, 2025
Saquon Barkley:
Quinn on Eagles’ RB Saquon Barkley: “Every single time I’ve played against him he’s been the emphasis [of the D].”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Quinn said you can’t get bored with doing the right things over and over with Saquon Barkley. He can explode for a big play at any moment
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Calm before the storm:
I asked #Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn about basically staying calm going into the #NFL divisional round last week. I’m sure his message is the same for this week heading into the #NFC Championship. pic.twitter.com/4qHaMaUaLa
— CWallSports (@cwallse) January 23, 2025
Practice notes
Eagles week:
The Commanders are blaring the Eagles fight song in their practice bubble.
“Fly Eagles Fly…” you know the words.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
NFC Championship practice vibes: pic.twitter.com/3q1eF6RAtx
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Absurd amount of media here for Commanders practice.
12 video cameras are here. Typically, there are about six cameras each week. pic.twitter.com/xekpvR0tey
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels:
Singing and Slinging!
Jayden Daniels: NFC Championship practice edition@JPFinlayNBCS @Gio_Delfa #RaiseHail#Commanders pic.twitter.com/PawU0y3quU
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels. pic.twitter.com/VeyZavItAl
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels: pic.twitter.com/bXpUmoqIZS
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025