Commanders head coach Dan Quinn responds after loss vs. Falcons
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is disappointed after the team's 34-27 loss against his old Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A visit to Quinn's old stomping grounds, where he was head coach from 2015-20, could have given the Commanders their third win of the season. Instead, they are taking the loss as a lesson.
“I'll explain what I told the team postgame. I said, ‘This stinks, and we’ve got to grow. That is a must.’ I thought, really, third down was a huge factor in the game on both sides. Us. Them. We knew third and fourth down was going to be a big piece of it," Quinn said. "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. That's kind of where we're at.”
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Commanders are dealing with a lot of injuries, but despite all of that, they still had a chance to win. Their poor start in which they began to trail 10-0 put them in a tough hole to dig out of, but they didn't quit.
The defense couldn't get enough stops in the end, which hurt their chances of any kind of comeback, but it can give the team experience for what's coming later in the season.
With 13 games left, the Commanders still have a lot of their season in front of them, so they are not trying to dwell on the past.
The Commanders will have a chance to get back in the win column in Week 5 when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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Al Horford Predicted to Replicate Key Celtics Role on Warriors
New Golden State Warriors center Al Horford was integral to the Boston Celtics’ on-court success, but his contributions extended beyond the court. Horford was the locker room leader and served as a mentor to his teammates, most of whom entered the NBA more than a decade after he turned pro in 2007.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson believes Horford can play a similar role on a Warriors team that has several younger players in bench roles.
“Horford, 39 years old, in his own ways will have influence over the few young players on the Warriors, most notably for 25-year-old centers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis,” wrote Johnson.
“Plus, any help at center is a win for Draymond Green and his health for a full season. Horford also brings something the Warriors have never had at his position.”
Al Horford Fill Huge Void
To Johnson’s point, Horford, who made 1.9 threes per game last season, will perform the role of a stretch 5 — a luxury the Warriors have never had in the Steve Kerr era. Golden State has had several rim runners and lob threats over the years — but never a reliable floor-spacing center who can consistently knock down shots.
“He now has made the fourth-most threes (877) by a center in NBA history, behind only Karl-Anthony Towns, Brook Lopez and Nikola Vučević, in that order,” Johnson wrote. “Horford has made at least 100 threes in each of the last three seasons while connecting on 40.9 percent of them.
“This past season he only played 60 games, a career low for a full season, yet still made his second-most threes (114) and also attempted his second most (314).”
Celtics Teammates Idolized Him
During his time with the Celtics, Horford was beloved for his leadership both on and off the court. In the lead-up to the 2025 playoffs, Jayson Tatum spoke glowingly about Horford’s leadership, going as far as to suggest that Horford taught him to be a pro.
“Al showed me what it means to be a professional,” Tatum said of Horford, while reflecting on the Dominican’s role in mentoring him as a youngser in the NBA.
“Somebody that came to work every day. Had a routine, had a plan, whether it was a practice day, a game day or off day. That was so beneficial to me. When I was young, I just think I can show up, put my shoes on and get on the court. Al really showed me — not even by telling — just by watching him go through his routine. Al’s in year 18 and still [a] vital part of a championship team.”
Payton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, said after the 2025 NBA playoffs that Horford’s role was irreplaceable in the locker room.
“You can’t replace Al,” Pritchard said. “I definitely hope we get that figured out because his locker room presence alone is just crucial. We definitely need him back.”
