Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Terry McLaurin spoke to the media after today’s come from behind win over the Dallas Cowboys. Washington’s offense wasn’t getting much done in the first half and the Commanders switched QBs after halftime. It was reported as a coaching decision at the time, but Dan Quinn said that Jayden Daniels was experiencing some leg soreness, and he knew the QBs legs would be needed in the 2nd half. Marcus Mariota came in and used his arm and legs to lead Washington to victory, Daniels said they would have had to drag him off the field if the team needed to win this game.
Dan Quinn
(Starts at 24:21)
Switching QBs after halftime/Jayden Daniels leg soreness:
Dan Quinn said he sat Jayden Daniels because of some mild leg soreness that cropped up.
Switching QBs was not expected.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 5, 2025
Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels experienced some soreness in his leg and the coach “felt it was the right thing to do” to put in Mariota for the second half.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 5, 2025
Jayden Daniels said he would have continued to play had it been a playoff situation. But Quinn said for today he knew the QBs legs would be a big deal in the 2nd half and he was right.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 5, 2025
Jayden Daniels
(Starts at 33:58)
Leg soreness:
Jayden Daniels: “Just some leg soreness. At the end of the day, I respect the decision DQ and them make. Now it’s just [about] getting ready for next week.”
He said it’s an injury/issue that came up today.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 5, 2025
Asked if he would’ve stayed in if the Commanders absolutely needed to win this game, Daniels said: “One hundred percent. They’d have to drag me off the field.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 5, 2025
Marcus Mariota
(starts at 00:54)
Coming in at halftime:
Marcus Mariota said he knew the plan was for him to enter in the 2H coming out of halftime.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 5, 2025
Game-winner to Terry McLaurin:
Terry McLaurin
12 wins:
(Starts at 5:20)
Come from behind wins this season:
Terry McLaurin: “we got a flair for the dramatics that’s for sure.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 5, 2025
Game-winning TD:
Terry McLaurin explaining why his TD was called a “back-five” throw: “It’s almost like when your grandma puts the cookies high so the little kids can’t get it. … If you put that ball, a fade, low or around the defender, he can get his hands or play through the ball. But if you…
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 5, 2025
Winning time moments:
Nick Allegretti
Momentum going into the playoffs:
