Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn may have bought himself more time, but he still needs wins to secure his future with the franchise. After Washington's comeback attempt against the San Francisco 49ers, NFL insider Ian Rapoport believes Quinn has earned a reprieve as the team looks to turn its season around.
“Another name to watch is Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders, who went into the San Francisco 49ers game with some heat; I think that is fair to say. Had a strong showing, took it to the end… seems to have bought himself some time,” Rapoport said.
“But if the wins do not come and the team does not improve, then that is a name we will continue to focus on.”
The Commanders trailed 23-3 against San Francisco before mounting a second-half comeback that fell short in a 23-17 loss. The result dropped Washington to 1-4-1, leaving Quinn with plenty of work to do during the team's bye week.
The effort may have helped Quinn's standing with the organization, but moral victories will only go so far. Washington needs to translate its late-game fight into wins, especially with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town for Sunday Night Football in Week 8.
Philadelphia has dealt with its own roster issues, giving Washington an opportunity to take advantage of a divisional matchup at home. A loss would leave the Commanders searching for more answers while increasing the pressure on Quinn to deliver results.
The schedule does not get easier after that. Washington faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 and then the New York Giants for TNF in Week 10, creating a difficult stretch for a team that cannot afford to keep falling behind in the standings.
Quinn's immediate future may be secure, but the next two-to-three games could help determine how much longer that remains the case. The Commanders need to show that the comeback against San Francisco was more than a brief sign of life.