‘Not Pleased!’ Commanders' Dan Quinn Rips Defense

The Washington Commanders’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended in a disheartening 37-20 defeat, with the defense’s struggles on third downs proving to be the critical factor. Head coach Dan Quinn was clear in his postgame assessment: third-down execution, or lack thereof, was the story of the game.

Tampa Bay converted nine of their 13 third-down attempts , a 69.2 percent success rate that consistently extended drives and kept Washington’s defense on its heels. Baker Mayfield took full advantage, posting a 146.4 passer rating, the highest in Week 1, as the Commanders failed to find answers against the Buccaneers' offense.

One glaring example came early in the game. On Tampa Bay's first drive, a 3rd and 3 at the Commanders' 38-yard line saw wide receiver Jalen McMillan break wide open, having completely fooled rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil. Fortunately for Washington, Mayfield overthrew the pass, settling the Bucs for a field goal. Even that was only possible because of a prior third-down failure where Clelin Ferrell’s penalty extended the drive.

The Commanders' defensive woes continued throughout the game, with the Buccaneers exploiting Washington's inability to make stops when it mattered. This allowed Tampa Bay to control the pace and flow of the game, leaving the Commanders with little chance to mount a meaningful comeback.

Dan Quinn's postgame remarks captured the sentiment: “I think the assessment defensively what I wasn't as pleased with was third down” said Quinn. “that's what I thought was the biggest story of this game where you get a guy off the spot”

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The numbers back him up, painting a picture of a defense that could not keep up, giving up critical yards and failing to contain Mayfield’s efficient passing attack.

As the Commanders prepare to face the New York Giants in Week 2, the focus will be on tightening up defensive schemes, particularly on third downs, to avoid a repeat of their Week 1 performance. Washington will need to regroup quickly to prevent falling into a deeper hole early in the season.