Blogging The Boys
Taking one last look at the Commanders’ side of things.
This matchup feels like Dallas vs. former Dallas coaches and players.
Matchups between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys don’t normally need any extra juice. Aside from the obvious divisional ramifications that come with each game, the two teams have an intertwined history that spans decades.
There will be a few more threads connecting the Commanders and Cowboys this year when they square off at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 24. Head coach Dan Quinn, who served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23, will face off against his former team for the first time on the other side of the rivalry. Current Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., along with five players on Washington’s roster, are also set to put their stamp on the historic feud between the two teams.
Quinn and his players are taking a team-first mentality into the week of preparation, but there’s certainly some extra excitement surrounding the game.
“To get a chance to have my first Dallas game here and have the crowd behind us and digging in, that’s a really cool thing,” Quinn said. “We can’t wait.”
Quinn success in Dallas is part of what landed him the job in Washington. The Cowboys led the league in takeaways (93), interceptions (59) and defensive touchdowns (15) with him as their defensive coordinator. He still has respect in Dallas for what he accomplished, both from his former players and fellow coaches.
“Just knowing Dan from across the way, I always had a ton of respect for him,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on Tuesday. “It was awesome to have him here in Dallas. He’s become a very good friend. I’m really happy for the success he’s having.”
Quinn was known for his ability to build relationships with players in Dallas — a trait that he brought with him to Washington. General manager Adam Peters and Managing Partner Josh Harris wanted to hire a coach who could help establish a culture and make Washington a place where players want to be. The Commanders are still in the process of establishing that reputation, but based on the 7-4 start and the report at the trade deadline that players wanted to join the Burgundy & Gold, the signs are pointing in the right direction.
That likely isn’t a surprise to the Cowboys players who knew Quinn from his days in Dallas.
“Q [Quinn], I love him,” said Cowboys safety Malik Hooker. “I’m sure there’s a lot of guys here that loved him. Obviously, I haven’t talked to him since the season started, but [in the] offseason he still reaches out and checks in from time to time. Q is always going to be one of the favorite guys in my book. He’s one of the best coaches I...
