After snapping an 8-game losing streak, Commanders leaders Bobby Wagner and Terry McLaurin describe the “lighter” atmosphere and the team’s refusal to quit.
ASHBURN, Va. — Following the Washington Commanders’ 29-21 victory over the New York Giants, the postgame locker room was different than the ones we’d walked into for the previous two months.
This one was happier, more energetic; players were less grimacing at the presence of nosy media members and more joyous to share praise about the teammates that helped the Commanders break their eight-game losing streak.
It was also a lighter locker room, with the weight of all that losing lifted in one 60-minute period. Because, while the NFL is a week-to-week business, we weren’t the only ones aware of the reality that if Washington could lose eight in a row before that day, they could lose four in a row, including that game. Still, even with that nagging presence in the back of everyone’s minds, the goal has always stayed the same.
“For last night, man, I wanted them to take an extra minute and to enjoy it,” head coach Dan Quinn told WUSA9’s John Doran in an exclusive interview the day after the win. “To see coaches and the players and their connection… They put so much into it. Not all the teams in the NFL do, but to have that space in the locker room knowing you fought for it together to go, that’s a big deal.”
“It’s been a while for us to get a win, and so to come out and fight and pull this win out was good,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said after the game. “It has been a while, but we got a lot of dogs in here, people that are fighting, and we’re trying to do our best to close the season out strong.”
“We Got a Lot of Dogs in Here”
That isn’t just lip service from Wagner, arguably the most impactful leader in the locker room, especially now with tight end Zach Ertz on the mend after suffering a torn ACL in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.
And it’s that type of mentality from the top of the roster that gives the Commanders a chance to end 2025 on a high note, even if it doesn’t mean they’ll get a crack at Lombardi’s trophy this postseason.
As Wagner is keenly aware, anyone can lead when it’s fun, and everyone is happy. It’s when the times get tough that the real leaders emerge. Being honest about your situation is one of the biggest parts of being a leader, as denying where you stand is the fastest way to lose where you’re going.
“I don’t think we are not trying to think about next season. We are trying to think about just getting a win, and then we have another game coming up, and just taking one game at a time. It’s not really about next year, it’s about how we can get better for the next game,” Wagner shared. Emphasizing that while the offseason looms, and everyone is aware of that fact, the focus on what is to come next and before it is even more important.
“Persevering Leadership”
Examples of persevering leadership were present throughout the win, even in the final moments when things got away from the offense just a bit.
Veterans quarterback Marcus Mariota and Terry McLaurin connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass during the course of the game, while Wagner and fellow linebacker Frankie Luvu, who didn’t have the greatest game in pass coverage, made several key plays down the stretch to cement the team’s fourth win of the year. Furthermore, the offensive line, even with veteran Laremy Tunsil suffering two injuries in the game, was able to give Mariota enough time to do enough damage and opened holes for rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who found the end zone early in the contest.
Special teams played their role as well, with rookie Jaylin Lane sparking what was inarguably the most important 90 seconds of the game by returning a punt 63 yards for his second return touchdown of the season. That return set a rookie franchise record as Lane is the first to ever have two returns for touchdowns in a single season, and the first since Brian Mitchell did it for Washington in 1994. “Anytime your name and B-Mitch’s name can be mentioned in the same sentence, that says a lot because he has established himself as one of the heavy hitters in our game,” says Quinn.
Second-year linebacker Jordan Magee also spoke about how much weight the divisional games can carry for a team, and the importance of that fact as Washington closes out the season.
“It is always good to be able to run your division, especially since we are not in playoff contention anymore, so it’s always good to say you’re at the top of your division.”
Dan Quinn wanted “blood in the snow” and wanted his team to stand up in what he’s deemed their version of March Madness with four straight games against the NFC East Division.
“I just wanted to make sure come hell or high water, these are teams in our division and how we play and make sure that comes across,” Quinn said of the mindset. “We knew it was going to be a physical game… So let’s go battle for it.”
What he got in Week 15 was an effort all about not quitting on each other, even when self-inflicted wounds threaten the success of them all. Nobody was perfect, not one phase or even one player, though cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., who Quinn told Doran was “saying something with his play style,” and offensive lineman Brandon Coleman were pretty close.
What they were was a unit that didn’t point fingers at one side or the other, but put their heads down, determined to achieve what was possible on a frigid day in New Jersey.
“An Addictive Feeling”
“When you get a win, it is an addictive feeling. When you lose, it stinks… but today, we won, and we are going to enjoy it and get ready for next week,” McLaurin said after the game, resolving to ensure he and his teammates have the same level of intent in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We don’t have anybody in that locker room that’s going to lay down,” he added. “I think we hold each other accountable to that. We get 17 games for a reason, and if you are in the position to continue to fight, you need to do that.”