ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders didn’t just win their Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday - they dominated it.
The 42-14 final score in favor of the Commanders will tell you that, but when you turn on the game tape - broadcast or coach’s tape - you’ll see beyond the box score and into a three-level effort that led to the team’s third consecutive win.
“This was our best team win where we were able to work and balance and have each other’s back,” Washington head coach Dan Quinn said in an exclusive conversation with WUSA9’s Chick Hernandez following the team’s return to Virginia. “That kind of energy is a really big deal.”
On offense, it was more of the same with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the charge - targeting nine different receivers - while running back Brian Robinson Jr. provided the physicality needed to take hold of the game early, and never let it go.
Other players stepped up as well, including running back Jeremy McNichols who ripped off several big runs, including a 27-yard touchdown sprint that gave the Commanders a 14-7 lead after the defense got its first stop of the game.
Speaking of the defense, that entire side of the ball is going to have a little pep in their step entering Week 5 after putting together a well-rounded performance that included four sacks and limited the Cardinals to just two scoring drives in the four quarters of play.
And then there is special teams, with big tackles made by tight ends Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff, and the still-perfect performance by kicker Austin Seibert. Even punter Tress Way - yes he’s still on the team - got involved with a rare punt that produced one of the two highlight reps from the tight end group.
As Quinn said, it was the best team win to date for Washington. For most, that statement stretches beyond the coach’s arrival, even. The energy that the win produced was felt on the field, on the plane, and certainly in the postgame locker room on Sunday night.
“There’s nothing like a happy locker room,” says Quinn. “There’s a lot of sacrifice that goes into a road trip like that. Bringing this, basically [the] entire building, out to Arizona and setting up shop to go through that. So, to be away and to go through that sacrifice, it was cool, but there’s also like a real connection that goes along with that.”
Part of that connection extends beyond the locker room as well and to the fan base that was loud and noticed in Glendale for this last win. That is a group Quinn looks forward to rolling his team out in front of for the second time this week when the Cleveland Browns come to visit.
“One thing I can tell you, man,” Quinn says. “We’re pretty lit to have this stadium get rocking with our fans on Sunday.”
Judging from the reaction of fans in Arizona, they’re pretty excited to get rocking with their favorite team as well. One that currently sits atop the NFC East Division, and has been for three weeks running.