Dan Quinn Should Be Embarrassed By Performance of Former Cowboys in Commanders Debut

The Dallas Cowboys started their 2024 NFL campaign with an impressive road win against the Cleveland Browns. Cowboys fans are finally feeling optimistic about their chances this season now that the drama-filled offseason is over and Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have signed their contract extensions.

The same can not be said about a former Cowboy who left Dallas in the offseason. Former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who took the Washington Commanders head coaching job in the spring, didn't have the debut he had envisioned. The Commanders suffered a blowout loss against the Bucs in Tampa Bay while the defense looked particularly disappointing.

The Commanders had the worst defense in the league last season, ranking last in both points and yards. Quinn brought Cowboys' pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as his defensive coordinator with the hopes of making a significant improvement on that end of the ball.

Quinn also poached Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong, and Noah Igbinoghene from Dallas to help on that front.

None of these moves helped Quinn in Week 1. Tampa Bay, led by Baker Mayfield, put up 37 points on the Commanders. Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes and finished the game with four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 146.4 passer rating.

Fowler finished the game with two tackles, Dorance Armstrong added a QB hit, and Igbinoghene had one pass defended. Overall, it was a deeply forgettable performance from the former Cowboys.

The Commanders will face much better offensive units than the Buccaneers. If Quinn and his offseason additions don't start putting better defensive performances together, Washington will continue to be bottom-dwellers in the NFC East for yet another season.

More Cowboys news and rumors: