Earlier this week, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur praised Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. LaFleur, in his seventh season as Green Bay’s highly successful head coach, said he likely wouldn’t be in his current position if he hadn’t spent two years on Quinn’s coaching staff in 2015 and 2016.

On Thursday, LaFleur’s Packers dominated Quinn’s Commanders 27-18. The score didn’t tell the entire story. Green Bay owned Washington on both sides of the ball. Specifically, LaFleur’s offense appeared to be playing chess with Quinn’s defense. The Commanders had no answers. They made Jordan Love look like Patrick Mahomes.

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So, when LaFleur praises Quinn, maybe it’s just because he’s happy to see him on the schedule.

In all seriousness, LaFleur does like and respect Quinn. So does Kyle Shanahan, too, who was also on Quinn’s staff during the same period. Shanahan has made no secret of how much he likes and respects Quinn. But, you guessed it, Shanahan’s offenses often get the best out of Quinn’s defensive units. The Green Bay and San Francisco offenses come from the same coaching tree, and it’s one that Quinn can’t seem to crack.

A unit coached by Quinn, whether as Dallas’ defensive coordinator or Washington’s head coach, has yet to beat LaFleur’s Packers. Every Cowboys fan remembers the January 2024 blowout loss in the NFC playoffs at home to the Packers. It was Quinn’s last game in Dallas as defensive coordinator. Fans blamed him more than anyone else.

After Green Bay defeated Washington on Thursday, LaFleur improved to 4-0 against Quinn. Some of the wins haven’t been competitive either. Quinn’s coverage concepts are often relatively simple, and LaFleur knows how to exploit them at every turn. It’s almost unfair.

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So, this begs the question: Why doesn’t Quinn adjust what he’s doing?

The Packers had injuries at receiver on Thursday and had wide-open wideouts all night. Quinn had no response to tight end Tucker Kraft.

This is an issue for the Commanders. Let’s say Washington and Green Bay meet again in the playoffs. Who would have any confidence picking Quinn against LaFleur? The Packers have looked like world beaters through two weeks. They’re going to make noise in January. If Washington wants to make noise in the playoffs, it will need to overcome Green Bay. Until he proves otherwise, it’s a major flaw for Quinn as head coach.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders coach Dan Quinn winless against Packers’ Matt LaFleur