LANDOVER, Md. -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels didn't hesitate. After yet another loss, and after falling three games under .500, Daniels -- and his teammates -- know that their season is slipping away.
So, when asked Sunday night if he worried they had enough time to turn it around, he quickly replied, "Yeah. Next week is a must-win."
Earlier, teammate K'Lavon Chaisson said, "Yeah, damn right" when asked a similar question.
Unfortunately for the Commanders, it's a familiar place. But it's also indicative of their season. At 2-5-1, they're three games behind the New York Giants (5-2-1) in the NFC East.
Mathematically the Commanders remain alive, but with nine games remaining, any realistic hope the team has for a strong finish likely begins and ends vs. the Giants on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video). A win and they would be two games back with eight to play and own the tiebreaker -- if that eventually mattered.
"We all know how badly we need this," Washington coach Dan Quinn said. "Everyone in this building understands that."
Another loss would drop them to 7-18-1 since the start of last season and likely intensify the speculation by analysts over Quinn's future. Owner Josh Harris has not publicly commented on Quinn's job. Quinn said he regularly meets with Harris before and after games and also on Mondays.
But in training camp, one team source said what has been repeated by others at various points: "It's a results business."
And the results need to improve. Washington has now played five one-score games; the Commanders are 1-3-1 in those games -- and 3-7-1 since the start of 2025. In 2024, when they went 12-5, Washington was 8-4 in one-score games -- but that included a four-game winning streak at season's end.
The Commanders were in another one Sunday before losing 20-13 to the Rams. They had the ball last, drove to the Rams' 32-yard line with eight seconds left, but two failed plays ended the threat.
They lost 23-17 in Week 6 at San Francisco, failing in the red zone -- a touchdown was nullified by a face mask penalty -- and again on the last series when they reached the 28 with 22 seconds to play.
"We get in those moments and we have to finish," Daniels said. "We have to make plays; that's for myself, that's for the O-line, for the running backs, receivers, the playcalls, and everything like that. We have to make plays. Regardless of what they call, we have to make plays."
They have a first-time playcaller in David Blough, but they also commit penalties or fail to execute plays properly. Perhaps no play summed it up like the final play in overtime in the last meeting against New York. Washington drove to the Giants' 24-yard line in overtime with 50 seconds remaining.
But the Commanders ran one play, snapping the ball at 12 seconds -- the play took too long to be relayed, from the coach to the players and then they sent subs, taking more time. Daniels failed to throw the ball away, resulting in a sack and, with no timeouts left, the end of the game.
It has added up to Quinn repeating the same lines each week, about seeking consistency and being able to play a complete game.
He said it again Monday.
"What I do know is that, man, do we have to put it all together," Quinn said. "There have been halves and quarters and good plays. That's what I'm looking for most: consistent football."
And then this: "Yes, I am tired of [saying] it and I'm not going to back off it."
The run game, which they had hoped would become a staple, has been inconsistent. In three of the past five games, the running backs haven't surpassed 50 yards. Washington's backs rank 24th in total yards and 23rd in yards per carry. When quarterback runs are included the Commanders rank ninth in yards per carry and 11th in yards per game.
They have shown progress: In the past 10 quarters, the defense has allowed just 33 points combined, forced five turnovers and held opponents to 34.2% conversion on third downs compared to 40% for the season.
But that has resulted in only a 1-2 record in that stretch.
"You see the progress," Chaisson said. "The results are obviously the main thing, but we're getting closer and closer. We're making great strides, but we just have to find a way to come out with a win."
But that's the problem: They haven't done so and now their season teeters once again. This is nothing new for the franchise: In the last eight seasons -- only four of which have occurred with Harris as owner -- Washington has been two or more games under .500 through eight games on six occasions.
"They know I'm agitated about it, to make sure it's the whole game," Quinn said. "Playing and being competitive is not what we stand for."
And it has left them in a bad spot.
"I've been in the league a long time and seen a lot of crazy scenarios," Quinn said, "so you never know how the season plays out. I'll refrain from one-game statements, but I will say we need this game."
