The Dallas Cowboys face a must-win game on Monday night against the Cardinals, but the Sunday slate was a big win for Dallas. Not only did the Packers lose, improving the position of the Cowboys' second first-round pick, but the Commanders got their doors blown off in primetime.
Yes, Washington has been ravaged by injuries this season, but the bloom is officially off the Dan Quinn rose. Already under pressure entering Sunday night's clash against the Seahawks, Quinn inexplicably left star quarterback Jayden Daniels in the game while trailing 38-7 in the fourth quarter.
That backfired horribly, as Daniels suffered a gruesome arm injury on a scramble that has since been diagnosed as a dislocated elbow. The MRI will determine how much time Daniels will miss, but there's a chance that his season is over. While Quinn isn't likely to lose his job a year after taking Washington to the NFC Championship Game, that is absolutely a fireable offense.
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Quinn is getting eviscerated on social media, and rightfully so.
The Commanders have played things carefully with Daniels this season in the name of preserving his long-term health. He missed two games earlier in the season with a sprained knee, and he missed Week 8 due to a hamstring injury he suffered against the Cowboys.
Quinn's decision to keep him in flew in the face of that. As the head of the operation, Quinn has to know better. Take Daniels out of the game and live to fight another week. The injury occurred early in the fourth quarter, but for all intents and purposes, the game was over. It was arguably over before halftime after Seattle opened up a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.
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Down several playmakers and with zero semblance of a run game, Daniels had to create plays on his own all game. He had already rushed nine (!) times before he got injured. He's been nicked up seemingly all season. Subjecting him to more wear and tear is indefensible by Quinn.
Daniels is arguably the only thing the Commanders have going for them. He is the franchise. They have an aging defense that can't cover or rush the passer, Terry McLaurin has been in and out of the lineup after signing a huge extension, and Zach Ertz, who's 35, is their most consistent possession receiver.
There was zero reason for Daniels to be in the game down 31. It's the type of decision that loses a locker room, and it might cost Quinn his job down the road if the season continues to spiral.