Did Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn just admit another major game management error during his team's San Francisco 49ers game on the road on Monday night?
After Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels bizarrely threw the ball away on fourth down during the first half in the red zone, the ESPN broadcast camera showed Quinn's curious reaction to the play.
If we're reading lips, Quinn seems to indicate he wants to kick a field goal after Daniels' throwaway before realizing that it was just fourth down, not third down. How can this happen?
The Commanders could have kicked a field goal on this particular 4th-and-two instead of running a passing play, but the team really seemed to be unaware of the down it was on. If Quinn really ran the play he wanted
for third down on fourth down like that clip suggests, it's unfortunately not a good look for anybody involved.
Combined with the mess out of that Commanders-Giants game, this is another really tough look for Quinn and Daniels.
Jayden Daniels threw the ball away on 4th down at the 49ers 13-yard line earlier in the 2nd quarter... pic.twitter.com/EW7jd95eIJ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 20, 2026
Not a professional lip reader but did
— Mike Mutnansky (@MikeMutnansky) October 20, 2026
Dan Quinn just say/ask “That was fourth down?” pic.twitter.com/ZUQZuMfDxA
“Field goal. Oh, that was 4th down?”
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 20, 2026
certainly looks like lip readers believe Dan Quinn was completely unaware that it was 4th down and wanted to kick a field goal
💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/yJYuAUmVZX
This is a very tough look for Dan Quinn. Looks like he thought the 4th down play was 3rd down. Very tough especially after last week pic.twitter.com/KUU8D2S81d
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 20, 2026
That just stinks for the Commanders and Quinn.
What's the latest on Terry McLaurin?
He was ruled out with a knee injury after being carted off.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Lip readers catch Dan Quinn's shocking reaction to Commanders botched play
