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Commanders Make Dan Quinn Announcement Before Lions Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 9:31 AM ET

Over the weekend the Washington Commanders took down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a last-second 37-yard field goal from kicker Zane Gonzalez to clinch a spot in the divisional round.

The kick started to sail to the right, but clashed off the right upright and through the sticks for a 23-20 victory. Everyone - including head coach Dan Quinn - was on the edge of their seat watching the kick.

"I felt like I was in a Bounty commercial where the cup spills and like, 'nooooo,'" Quinn told reporters after the game. "As it went through, I just paused and probably skipped a beat, but that's the emotion where it was at."

The win was the team's first playoff win in 19 years and helped Quinn join franchise history.

"The first Washington coach since 1943 to win a playoff game in his first season," the team said on social media this morning.

The first Washington coach since 1943 to win a playoff game in his first season pic.twitter.com/gAyeXKw6qZ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 14, 2025

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has looked nothing like a rookie all season long, continued his stellar play by completing 24-of-35 passing for 268 yards and two touchdowns while adding 36 yards on the ground.

Quinn admitted he can get a bit flustered during games, but his rookie quarterback remains settled.

"If he had his heart rate monitor on, and mine, they would not be the same in the game," Quinn said. "His stays pretty consistently good and sometimes I'm like the duck: If you just saw the feet going under the water, it's good. But he really is, in that space, exceptional."

Washington will head on the road to Detroit for a battle against the No. 1 seed Lions on Saturday night. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on Fox.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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