Week 5 proved Dan Quinn is exactly who the Commanders needed

The Washington Commanders badly needed a get-right game after their Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It wasn't going to be easy facing the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, but they found a way.

Washington was still banged up, despite the return of star quarterback Jayden Daniels from his knee sprain that cost him the last two contests. The Commanders started slow, falling behind 10-0 after the first quarter.

Then, they showcased the grit and determination that led them to last year's NFC Championship game, with 27 unanswered points en route to a statement win. One thing was crystal clear in the victory: Dan Quinn outcoached Jim Harbaugh.

Dan Quinn silences the noise in identity-defining Week 5 Commanders win

After Washington's loss to the Falcons, the doom and gloom were in full force. The peanut gallery was already proclaiming a lost season and wanted heads to roll. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was a prime target of criticism, and Quinn wasn't off the hook either.

There's no understating how huge this game was for the Commanders from a vibes standpoint. A loss would have made for an incredibly long week. Instead, fans got a much-needed reminder of why Josh Harris and Adam Peters hired one of the best culture builders in the NFL.

After Washington fell behind, the Chargers were in scoring range again when Quentin Johnston fumbled and the road team recovered. From that point on, it was like a light switch flipped — the Commanders locked in and capitalized on every opportunity, and Los Angeles straight-up imploded.

The mental mistakes were shocking from a Harbaugh-coached team. A roughing the kicker penalty on a Tress Way punt wiped a return touchdown off the board late in the first half, which the Commanders converted into three points to tie the score at halftime. On a crucial fourth down late in the third quarter, Los Angeles was late to get set and ran a play that never had a chance, gifting Washington prime field position.

The Commanders, meanwhile, did everything right. After going ahead 20-10, they came up with a massive Mike Sainristil interception at the goal line on the Chargers' only threatening drive of the second half. On offense, they were poised and mistake-free, committing only seven penalties compared to 10 for the Bolts.

In short, they played disciplined, well-coached football. They played like a team with a winning structure, a winning identity, and a winning culture. That's what Quinn, the old-school leader of men, has brought to Washington.