Cowboys vs. Commanders: Reunions aplenty in this rivalry renewal

Taking one last look at the Commanders’ side of things.

Dan Quinn, players prepare for reunion with Cowboys – Zach Selby, Commanders.com

This matchup feels like Dallas vs. former Dallas coaches and players.

Matchups between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys don’t normally need any extra juice. Aside from the obvious divisional ramifications that come with each game, the two teams have an intertwined history that spans decades.

There will be a few more threads connecting the Commanders and Cowboys this year when they square off at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 24. Head coach Dan Quinn, who served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23, will face off against his former team for the first time on the other side of the rivalry. Current Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., along with five players on Washington’s roster, are also set to put their stamp on the historic feud between the two teams.

Quinn and his players are taking a team-first mentality into the week of preparation, but there’s certainly some extra excitement surrounding the game.

“To get a chance to have my first Dallas game here and have the crowd behind us and digging in, that’s a really cool thing,” Quinn said. “We can’t wait.”

Quinn success in Dallas is part of what landed him the job in Washington. The Cowboys led the league in takeaways (93), interceptions (59) and defensive touchdowns (15) with him as their defensive coordinator. He still has respect in Dallas for what he accomplished, both from his former players and fellow coaches.

“Just knowing Dan from across the way, I always had a ton of respect for him,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on Tuesday. “It was awesome to have him here in Dallas. He’s become a very good friend. I’m really happy for the success he’s having.”

Quinn was known for his ability to build relationships with players in Dallas — a trait that he brought with him to Washington. General manager Adam Peters and Managing Partner Josh Harris wanted to hire a coach who could help establish a culture and make Washington a place where players want to be. The Commanders are still in the process of establishing that reputation, but based on the 7-4 start and the report at the trade deadline that players wanted to join the Burgundy & Gold, the signs are pointing in the right direction.

That likely isn’t a surprise to the Cowboys players who knew Quinn from his days in Dallas.

“Q [Quinn], I love him,” said Cowboys safety Malik Hooker. “I’m sure there’s a lot of guys here that loved him. Obviously, I haven’t talked to him since the season started, but [in the] offseason he still reaches out and checks in from time to time. Q is always going to be one of the favorite guys in my book. He’s one of the best coaches I had, and I still love him like a mentor as he was here.”

The flagging Commanders offense gives Kliff Kingsbury a familiar problem – Sam Fortier, The Washington Post

Recent offensive struggles after a hot start might not be a Kingsbury issue.

It’s difficult to isolate one reason the Washington Commanders’ offense has dipped over the past month. The messy, overlapping pile of explanations includes subpar health, continued issues with talent, luck, more difficult competition, a short week and the mental toll of 11 straight weeks without a bye.

But one thing seems clear: There’s no reason to think this is related to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s past midseason regressions.

While Kingsbury’s offenses have faded down the stretch nearly every year for a decade, the film shows the Commanders’ struggles have mostly been about execution. Kingsbury’s decisions haven’t been perfect — especially in the running game, in which efficiency is down — but his scheme and play calling do not appear to be the problem.

For his part, Kingsbury suggested he wasn’t aware of the downward trend and wouldn’t change his approach. “I was thinking about doing triple option,” he joked Thursday. “Is that what you’re thinking? We’re going to do what we do.”

Over the next two weeks before the bye, Kingsbury can reassert his offense’s dominance against the Dallas Cowboys, one of the league’s worst defenses, and the Tennessee Titans, who aren’t significantly better. Plus, he seems to have high hopes for Jayden Daniels. When a reporter asked Kingsbury whether he had to change play calls earlier this season because of the quarterback’s rib injury, the coordinator paused.

“I’m not going to divulge what we did while he was, I would say, more banged up,” he said. “But” — he paused again — “hopefully we play better this week. I’ll just say that.”

If the Commanders capitalize on the plays available, the offense could still soar back to its previous heights.

“Overall, collectively as an offense, we can be better, and I think a week of real practice will help that,” Kingsbury said.

5 Commanders on the hot seat entering Week 12 vs. the Cowboys – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com

Some Commanders will still need to step up for this division rivalry renewal.

Fans will be expecting a victory given how things have gone for the Cowboys this season. After getting more hype than they deserved before the campaign, things have crumbled dramatically. The Commanders will never get a better chance to flip the script of this storied rivalry.

This divisional clash will also have special significance for many. Several coaches and players were on the opposite sideline last season. Handling the pressure and getting Washington in the win column once again is the only thing that matters.

With this in mind, here are five Commanders firmly on the hot seat, for differing reasons, in Week 12 versus the Cowboys.

Commanders on the hot seat entering Week 12 vs. Cowboys

Commanders offensive tackles

We’ll group all three offensive tackles projected to play together. They have one objective above all else in Week 12. That, of course, is to stop Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons from wreaking havoc in the backfield.

Parsons spent time on the shelf through injury this season. He’s now back and eager to help Dallas get out of its concerning slump. The task facing Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, and rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman is steep. They must pass this test with flying colors.

The Washington Commanders cannot afford to give Parsons enough space to turn this game on its head. He’s one of the few defensive players around the league with this rare trait – something Dan Quinn knows well and utilized to full effect during his time with the Cowboys.

He’ll also know more than most about how best to counteract Parsons’ supreme threat. That will only go so far. It’s then up to the offensive tackle trio to execute Wasington’s game plan effectively in a high-pressure setting.

Noah Brown – Commanders WR

The Commanders are patiently waiting for someone to step up and become a legitimate No. 2 receiving option alongside Pro Bowl pass-catcher Terry McLaurin. Noah Brown might still be that guy, but things have tailed off over the last fortnight.

Brown accumulated just four receptions from 11 targets for 37 receiving yards versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. He’s still causing his customary defensive pass interference penalties, which is something. But the Commanders need more from the former seventh-round selection if they want to mix it with the NFL’s elite when the playoffs begin.

Here is the Cowboys’ final injury report for Week 12 against Washington.