Dan Quinn can't outrun the Commanders' habit that could break them

"After the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Dan Quinn said the team needed to work on getting the offense rolling faster on the road and being better at converting on third downs. "But I also said that our two road games, we've started slowly, and our two home games, we haven't. We're on the road again this week, and we need to get that handled. First quarter, down 10-0. We've got to make sure we can get that turned around and play it fast and aggressive like we like.""

"Against the Chargers, it was déjà vu, as once again Washington fell behind 10-0 early. If it wasn't for the Quentin Johnston fumble, which shifted the momentum of the entire game, Los Angeles was well on its way to scoring again. Washington's rally was as much about persistence as it was about the Chargers' sloppy errors. The turnover gave life, and then the repeated penalties by the usually disciplined Los Angeles team, including two in a row, erasing gains of 23 and 31 yards, helped put the game away."

"Last season, Washington had the fifth-most first-quarter points in the NFL and was in the middle of the pack in road games. This year, the Commanders are 26th in first-quarter points overall and dead last on their travels. In its three away games, the Commanders have scored zero points in the first quarter. With Jayden Daniels behind center, no lead is insurmountable. But given the injuries this team has been facing all year, it's not fair to think they will always be"

Washington fell behind 10-0 early against the Chargers and on the road again, continuing a pattern of slow starts away from home. A Quentin Johnston fumble shifted momentum and the Chargers' repeated penalties erased big gains, enabling Washington's comeback that featured 27 unanswered points. The team previously ranked fifth in first-quarter scoring last season but now sits 26th overall and last on the road, with zero first-quarter points in three away games. Coach Dan Quinn emphasized the need to start faster and improve third-down conversions. Injuries and inconsistent early offense threaten the team's ability to meet raised expectations.

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