Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn (Post-Game Transcript)
Opening statement:
“As far as a division game in a loss, it stinks man, it does a lot. With the team, I would say I really loved our fight. I like that competitive nature. You heard me talking about that, what that means. Our battle, the miscues I thought hurt us in this game and those were the margins right there, division games or otherwise. Those are the lessons I want to make sure that we apply moving forward into Week Two. All three phases, just take the example of what we need to do and how we do it better. Speed, I like play-making ability, but the miscues I thought that’s the thing. We’ve got to get things off our tape. It’s great to have [Commanders QB] Jayden [Daniels] back. Though that was significant. It was good to see him also learn some lessons from ‘25, making a play, get down, throw the ball away. Those are things that as a coach, I don’t really know until I get into the games. He’s such a competitor, I thought and it’s good to have him back into the space. But, there’s going to be a lot for us to teach off of as we go through this and then get right back into another division game. Like I said, I’m not surprised by our fight, our battle, but it’s a division game loss and that stings badly.”
On if the miscues on defense led to big plays for the Eagles:
“Yeah, everything that was explosive, I’d love to see off our tape. One, as I’m going backwards, it looked like it was a false start. We stopped, they finished, and you just have to finish it out no matter what. A scramble for another long one and a third down long. Those ones are just tough. There were plenty of third downs that I liked. I just want to make sure we continue to do that over and over and over again and we’re capable of that, but those are the ones, man, let’s nail those.”
On if he received an explanation on the missed false start:
“I didn’t and I’m sure we’ll get some reviews and things to look at, but as the first game goes, like I said I thought the battles were there back and forth. There’s been a couple I had questions on that I’ll submit and see what they can come back to. But on that one, there’s a lesson for us too whether it was or was not, we still have to finish.”
On how he thought Commanders WR Stefon Diggs looked in his first game:
“I love the competitive nature that he brings to our team. I feel that in an authentic way. This is a good defense, especially in pass defense, in Philadelphia. Completions are hard, the distances are hard to get to. Getting these third downs that could be much less, much more winning football. I thought it came better a little bit later, as the game went on with the runs and the play passes to come off of that. Sticking with the run game I thought was significant. I liked some hard runs that I saw. Those two, when they marry and balance together, you get a lot more chances for the explosives. So there’s certainly some lessons from that.”
On his conversation with Commanders WR Stefon Diggs’ touchdown celebration penalty:
“Yeah, we were going to go for two. I did have a conversation with him about that. He’s a real competitor. He knows better in that space and he knows that. So we did talk about that in that spot. I love his fight. I love what he stands for, but as the competitor, he knows better in that spot.”
On how the offense ended up getting into rhythm:
“I think sometimes you hang in there and you stay with it and know there’s going to be something. Again, it’s like second and 10, and you hang in there and don’t chase plays. I knew this was going to be a good front and a good challenge. The defensive tackles, the linebacker, corners, the nickel, different guys in different spots where the matchups are. As I go back and look at it, we’ll assess and say, ‘what did we like’ and ‘what were the ones that we want to work on even further’ in that spot. But as far as play callers, I felt both guys were ready, prepared, never rushed or out of sync or out of sorts. In a close game like that, we want to make sure each of them count. There’s always one wanting this back or that back but as far as first games go, I liked how they prepared, how they executed and we’ll get into it.”
On the next steps for the defense’s development:
“I honestly think getting these big plays off the table. Those are the ones that can change field position and make such a big difference. A couple of them being on third down was significant but if we can eliminate those, I like our speed, I like our hitting, I like our physicality. I like being in and out of pressure for us, but let’s get these explosive plays as best we can off and there were too many of them tonight. I give credit. [Eagles QB] Jalen’s [Hurts] an excellent quarterback, so he’s going to make someone miss. You love for that not to happen, but you also understand the coach and taking the extra step on the quarterback when he’s drifting and how you finish, those are things that you want to keep refining. As far as game one goes, you want to take those. How do we apply things you want to get better at? So, hopefully make those improvements as you get into two, three, four, and so on.”
On the Commanders’ two-point playcall:
“It was a shovel and so I saw penetration. That was the one usually that blows up any play down inside. It’s a good play down in the redzone. Obviously people come up field and see Jayden Daniels get out on the edge to go. When you shove it back inside, there’s usually some space to go, but it looked like without seeing, I just felt penetration. I don’t know who or where they stunted out to it, but from a play call, it’s an effective one.
On if Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has the option to throw to the flat on the two-point play:
“Yes. There’s a couple parts to it which makes it a good one. We’ve run it recently that we had up in the plan. I think that’s important, you go with what you practice, what you think you can go execute. I thought whomever had the penetration, I thought that was the thing that really got him playing off course.
On how involved he is with the play-calling:
Most of them I’ve seen through the week to where we’re going to go. And so in that particular one you think about yeah, let’s go for it. So I’ll hear them as we’re going through in that particular one, clock stopped and I think they’re still reviewing with [Commanders WR Antonio] Williams essentially. So I was kind of like, you’re calling it either way, with where we’re at, so whether it’s touching and if we’re going for two more or the two point now. So that’s what the conversations were about. For most of those, I look at the fourth downs during the week with the guys and that’s part of how I assist in the game that goes also for no more go more spots. And so I try to communicate with [Commanders Offensive Coordinator] David [Blough] into those spaces this distance we’re going to go and play as well. The distance with field goal or punt and so I try to be clear with the guys. I knew the play, I thought it was a good one. We didn’t execute and it sucks. There were other miscues in this game. So that’s the stuff.”
On the frustration of the Commanders’ pre-snap penalties:
“I want to get some answers on that. When it’s clear and obvious, it’s pretty good for me to see moving feet. Those are the ones that frustrate us, both sides of the line of scrimmage, so let’s look at them. Those are the discipline ones I want to see come through. I didn’t feel these guys were prepared for the crowd noise, excellent environment. So I didn’t feel like Nick or the line or anybody else was out of whack in that space. I liked the work that the guys put in, that allowed the environment to go into. I didn’t feel any good preparedness or getting offset from a crowd standpoint.”
On what he saw on Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ 22-yard scramble:
“It looked like there were receivers in deep spaces, and where you’re covering deep it did feel open on the inside. And so we’ll go back, take a look at it and see what to go for. But that’s one for sure that leaves the mark. It’s like he’s excellent at that using his legs. And so those are the ones you got to get out.”
On what the challenge is to get the ball to Commanders WR Terry McLaurin:
“That’s the hard part, and it kind of speaks to the competitor that he is. When you don’t get touches until late in the game, you can get frustrated and be off and that was not it. He kept the same focus. Oftentimes you’re looking, okay, if they are filling to try to take him away, whatever spots are open. There’s certainly some of that. It does speak to the competitors. He just stayed in it and those moments came to go get some he did. Every game will play out a little bit differently, especially now that we’re playing people and better not go just to one, people can make you pay and that’s important. On the injury side, I don’t have a lot to share with you guys. I definitely will when we visit next. There are a couple that didn’t finish the game, but other than that, we don’t have anything else to share.”