After four games, three of which have been on the road, Washington is 3-1, but Dan Quinn says he is not really surprised.
After trailing by as much as 37-14 in Tampa in the opener, the Commanders have bounced back for the last three weeks. The fan base is surprised and excited, but Dan Quinn, when asked Wednesday, insisted he is not.
“I’m not surprised. I knew the connection would be the number one thing for us to see if we could play well, how long that would take, how connected this team could get on all three phases. And so the support of one another, all of those things, that’s to me, the faster we could do that.”
After winning in Cincinnati, the team traveled directly to Arizona for their matchup against the Cardinals. The team appeared prepared, so united in mind and purpose, they were on their way to a 17-7 halftime lead and a 42-14 win over the Cardinals.
“I thought the team’s done a good job of fast-tracking the feeling out process, putting agendas to the side, absolutely all-out effort. Those are the non-negotiables that we’d have to have, and the team has got that way faster than you’d say a more established team would have some of those things in place. So those are some of the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet that I certainly look for.”
But how will the team now not get caught up in all of the national attention they have received following their last two victories? Each morning this week, the national television shows have discussed the Commanders and Jayden Daniels. That is a lot of fame and praise to be suddenly laid in your lap. How can a team handle that?
“I would say the one thing that it’s very easy to support Jayden. And the reason I say that is because you see it every day in terms of the work that he puts in and goes for it. So, there’s no extra things that you have to say to him in this regard because you see the character of what the man is. Had it been up and down, and I was worried, I’d have that conversation. But all he has shown all of us since he’s been here is a relentless approach to getting better and staying in the moment, and he’s got a remarkable level-headedness to him that’s wise beyond his age.”
It sounds like Daniels has his head on straight and he realizes he made it this far by being willing to work hard, arriving early, leaving late, and working to improve each day.
Daniels leads the NFL in passing completion percentage at 82.1 and just threw his first interception last weekend. He is also third in yards gained per pass attempt with 8.5.