LANDOVER — Before Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn answered any questions from reporters in the postgame press conference following his team’s 34-13 beatdown Sunday of the visiting Cleveland Browns, he had something important he wanted to say.
“I thought the fan support today was awesome,” Quinn said.
That was a hometown crowd in the stands at Northwest Stadium. It was a Commanders (4-1) crowd. It was loud and raucous and as connected to the team on the field as we’ve seen in that stadium in quite some time.
It was clear the impact of the near-sellout crowd — attendance was 59,030 — was a topic of discussion among players. And it was something they were overjoyed to experience.
“The home-field advantage helped the defense play better on third down,” he said (the Browns were 1 for 13 on third down). “We felt that energy and support from the sideline. You could feel the energy that was brought. That’s the home-field advantage that is such a big deal.”
He has no idea how remarkable Sunday was at the stadium. He may think he does, but neither Quinn nor the rest of the newcomers to the organization can really comprehend the group suffering that typically takes place here during football games.
The fans know. I’m not talking about the ones who were there when RFK Stadium shook during the Joe Gibbs glory years. I’m not sure how many of them are left to make the trek out to watch this team play.
I’m talking about the ones who grew up under the dysfunction that defined this football team for the last two decades, the ones who were tortured and tormented by their toxic relationship with something that should have brought them joy.
As they poured out of the stadium Sunday, dancing and cheering, they most definitely felt joy – and not the fleeting joy that has surfaced from time to time with this football team.
They felt a change. New owners. New front office. New players. New day.
The atmosphere was 100% different,” said Fredericksburg, Va.’s Robert Wease, who was wearing a Terry McLaurin jersey. “You could see how the players were enjoying themselves. There’s a different culture. Today brought the pride back of how it used to be, the pride and the legacy.”
Marcus Willis from Upper Marlboro, Md., is a season ticket holder who fully embraced the excitement in the building. “I led the “wave” in section 304,” he said.
“I haven’t seen it like that in a long time,” Shereta Willis said. “It was exciting.”
Then, when he spoke of one of those fleeting good times — the Robert Griffin III rookie campaign in 2012 that led to an NFC East division title and later collapsed in injury and insult — Marcus Willis declared, “This is bigger than RGIII. It’s better than RGIII.”
That is because of the savior — whose jersey Marcus Willis wore Sunday. No. 5, the jersey worn on the field by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
He was a captain for Sunday’s game, and he played like one in just his fifth NFL start. It certainly wasn’t Daniels’ best game — no historic performance here. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
But he responded to moments of failure — an interception on the goal line on a pass attempt to Zac Ertz after completing a 66-yarder on the run to McLaurin while on the run — with big plays.
He connected on a 41-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown and two key runs of 34 and 23 yards that sustained drives that led to touchdowns. Daniels was the team’s leading rusher with 11 carries for 82 yards.
“I told him inside sometimes you learn as much from that start as you do from the 27 for 29 (passing),” Quinn said of his young quarterback. “What I can tell you is he processes quickly.”
He responds to the moment. That’s what captains do. That’s what saviors do.
Tress Way has been waiting for a savior here for 10 years. The punter has lived through the invasion of visiting fans, the cheers for the visiting team drowning out any weak semblance of support for Washington. He’s been here for the booing by the hometown fans who were angry enough to make noise that the players noticed.
Sunday, the fans gave the team a loud, standing ovation when they headed for the locker room at halftime with a 24-3 lead.
Way was beside himself after the game talking about what he and his teammates experienced from the hometown fans.
“Probably what I’ll remember most from today was…we were feeling really good coming into this game, and, by our standards, we didn’t start very good,” he said. “But it felt like they (the crowd) had our backs. They were loud, and I think our defense really fed off that and started making some plays. Then the offense got rolling in this incredible atmosphere and environment. I am just thankful to have seen that and been part of it. It felt like a true home-field atmosphere.”
It felt different because Jayden Daniels makes anything possible as long as he is under center, even when he’s not at his best.
• You can hear Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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