The Daily Slop – 12 November 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
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Commanders links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
Why Commanders fans should still be pulling for a turnaround under Dan Quinn
The thing about firing Dan Quinn as coach of the Washington Commanders — though it would placate an increasingly dissatisfied fanbase — is there’s a trickledown that would leave the franchise in a state that has defined it for far too long: unstable.
Bear with me, because a vote for the status quo could seem — how to put this? — wild at the moment. This isn’t a case that Quinn should keep his job based on his team’s current trajectory as much as it is a warning about what would follow if the losses continue.
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When things are going as they are — and Washington is 4-15-1 over the last 13 months — people tend to want heads to roll. Change becomes the only way to satisfy that. It’s an emotional response, which is fine, because what’s the point in rooting for a sports franchise if it doesn’t manage to tap into your emotions?
But think about the fallout if Quinn and his staff don’t survive. Their fate hangs in the remaining results, which must start improving beginning Thursday night against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. There are a host of reasons any Commanders fan who is interested in the long-term stability and success of the franchise should root for a turnaround.
[Josh Harris’s] record in the other two American sports franchises he owns would suggest Harris isn’t afraid of change. That’s good. A willingness to admit mistakes should be a trait of a good owner.
But if Quinn is ousted after his third season, wouldn’t the start to Harris’ stewardship feel — and it’s scary to go here — a little Snyder-esque?
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The way to avoid that: Have Quinn and his crew turn this season around. At this point, that might seem unlikely, but in the interest of distancing this franchise from the previous quarter-century, it would be the best outcome for everyone — from the quarterback to the fans.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy Are Trending in Different Directions
Daniels came into 2026 ready to reset after missing 10 games due to injury last season. The Commanders were also in reset mode. They kept head coach Dan Quinn in place, but swapped out both coordinators. On Daniels’s side of the ball, they promoted David Blough to become their new OC and implement a more traditional, under-center style of offense—a significant change after primarily running a no-huddle, shotgun offense under Kliff Kingsbury. They also made numerous roster changes, primarily on the defensive side of the ball as they looked to improve one of the worst-ranked defenses in the NFL during the 2025 campaign.
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The new offense has brought mixed results. There are times that Daniels and the offense are in rhythm, such as in the first half of their game against the Rams, when they got out to a 10–6 halftime lead. At other times, they struggle to move the ball at all, such as in the second half or their loss to the Rams, when they couldn’t muster a single first down in the third quarter.
The Commanders’ offense ranks 20th in yards per game (325.4) and passing yards per game (207.4), 21st in points per game (21) and 22nd in EPA per play (-0.08). They are undermanned due to injuries to their best offensive lineman, Laremy Tunsil, and receiver, Terry McLaurin, but also aren’t fully playing up to their potential.
Aside from some game management miscues, Daniels is still playing well, even if he’s not quite lifting the team the way he did as a rookie.
While McCarthy has changed teams and other quarterbacks from the class saw their teams undergo coaching changes early on (Michael Penix Jr., Caleb Williams and Drake Maye), Daniels could be facing that fate in Year 4 if the Commanders move on from Quinn.
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The Commanders have their quarterback in Daniels, but with low playoff hopes (a win Thursday would draw them to two games behind the Giants in the NFC East, while the wild-card field is crowded) and a franchise still figuring out how to properly build around him, his career is at an odd standstill. He is not trending downward, but he has also not built off that wondrous rookie campaign.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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Washington Post (paywall)
Treylon Burks questioned his NFL future; the Commanders are glad he stuck with it
The Nov. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles was the first after McLaurin suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon. The injury was bittersweet for Burks. It gave the 26-year-old an opportunity to start, which he capitalized on with three catches for 81 yards in the win at Northwest Stadium. Seeing McLaurin go down, however, was gutting.
Burks’s absence with a foot injury was felt in Washington’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, but Coach Dan Quinn said Burks will return when the Commanders (2-5-1) visit the New York Giants (5-2-1) on Thursday night. They need him to pick up where he left off — he has gone from a supplemental piece to a key cog.
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While he has only played in six games, Burks is fourth on the team with 233 receiving yards. He leads Washington with 19.4 yards per catch and should see a higher volume of targets when healthy.
Everything has started to click for Burks. Coming off a stagnant performance against the Rams, the Commanders could use a big performance from him against the Giants. He no longer doubts his ability to do that.
“I’m playing backyard football again,” Burks said. “My confidence was out of the roof — it still is out of the roof.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Last Man Standig
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OFF SCRIPT: Amik Robertson on hitting rock bottom & must-win football
“They don’t understand that the cornerback is a top-two hardest position to play in football,” said the Washington Commanders starting … cornerback. “A lot of people can’t — I don’t even want to say a percentage, but not a lot of people can do it, right?”
That’s an accurate assessment on the broad humans-interested-in-football scale. Even some capable ones cannot stick around for long. Robertson, a 2019 first-team All-American at Louisiana Tech and a 2020 fourth-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders, is in Year 7. This is despite being the definition of undersized, even among the non-behemoths he shares the field with.
Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the 183-pound cornerback has the required coverage and ball skills; Robertson is tied for the league lead with nine pass deflections, according to TruMedia. But when it comes to why some thrive at the position regardless of their size and skill set, Robertson sees the importance of the mental game.
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“You have to have a different kind of mindset because you can make a thousand plays, and you still can cause the team to lose,” Robertson said. “Could be any critical moment. It could be a small first down that puts a team in field-goal range. Then they kick a field goal, and you lose the game. Everybody will say, ‘Oh, it’s your fault.’
For more from Ben Standig, click here
Commanders Roundtable
Commanders vs Giants: 3 keys to watch
Can Washington Run the Ball?
The Giants are third in the NFL in passing defense, giving up only 177.8 yards per game, and fifth in total defense. They haven’t been as strong, though, at stopping the run. New York is 21st in yards allowed per game, with 123.6 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry. Washington is 11th in rushing offense and eighth in yards per carry despite injuries in the backfield. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was lost to an injured groin, while Jemery McNichols faces potential foot surgery two games after briefly returning from IR. Right now, the Commanders’ running backs are Rachaad White, Austin Ekeler, and Robert Henry. And there’s always the running threat of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Rachaad White showed flashes a week ago, but Washington needs to establish their ground game early and often to keep New York on its toes.
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To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
2026 NFL midseason report: Questions, stats for all 32 teams entering second half
Commanders
QB stat to know: Jayden Daniels has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions. This team has little margin for error, and turnovers would bury it. But this offense hasn’t yielded the explosive results Washington discussed in the offseason. It’s a new system for Daniels and, through the same amount of games his rookie season, he had six touchdowns and two picks — en route to 25 scoring passes.
Second-half storyline: Dan Quinn’s job security. Washington’s first-half schedule was difficult but it should be better than 2-5-1. Quinn also opted for first-time coordinators on both sides and that has led to growing pains. None of this has been ideal for a coach whose team is 7-17-1 since it went 12-5 in 2024. — John Keim
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To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Three keys to beating the Giants on Thursday Night Football
Keep pressure off Jayden Daniels.
Here is one thing we know about the Giants’ plans to beat the Commanders: they are going to put pressure on Daniels.
The Giants’ defense has continued to improve from the last time the two teams squared off in Week 5. They are now fifth in yards allowed and third against the pass, allowing just 178 yards through the air. Part of that is a credit to how much pressure they put on opposing quarterbacks; they rank third in blitz percentage, according to Pro Football Reference, and considering that they pressured Daniels on nearly 30% of his dropbacks in Week 5, you can expect something similar in Week 10.
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Here’s the silver lining for the Commanders, though: while the Giants do blitz more than almost any team, it has not led to pressures. They rank last in pressure rate (18.9%) and only have 16 sacks for the season. In fact, rookie Arvell Reese is the only Giants defender with more than two sacks on the year.
Although it might not feel like it after allowing four sacks against the Los Angeles Rams, the Commanders are around league average in sacks allowed and rank sixth in pass block win rate, per ESPN. That isn’t going to stop the Giants from trying, though, so it will be important for Washington’s offensive line to give Daniels time to work. If the blitzes keep coming, there will be areas for him to exploit downfield.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
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Commanders vs. Giants odds, picks, predictions for ‘Thursday Night Football’
I really want to believe in the Commanders. I picked them to upset the Los Angeles Rams last week, and it was an extremely even game. The Rams going 3-for-3 on fourth down and Myles Garrett being active decided the game. You could make a case that Dan Quinn’s team got unlucky, but I won’t do that. When something happens repeatedly, it’s not luck. Unfortunately, losing close games seems woven into the fabric of the 2026 Commanders, perhaps as karmic payback for a 2024 iteration that seemingly won every close game and converted every fourth down en route to a surprise appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
The Giants are 4-1-1 in one-score games. That tie came against these Commanders in a game that Washington absolutely should have won — and I’m a Giants fan saying that. John Harbaugh is just a better coach than Quinn. It is what it is.
Obviously, the Commanders have the better quarterback. Daniels is still electric, and J.J. McCarthy was not good in the win at Philly. I just have faith that the Giants will make plays when they need to, and the Commanders not only won’t but will actively hurt their own chances at winning.
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To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Photos
Podcasts & videos
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles-Giants Film Review: Tired of trying to find reasons to be interested in an offense that keeps failing in the same ways
What else is there to say about this offense? I keep sitting down to write these reviews hoping that the film will give me something different to discuss. Instead, the Eagles ended up with 220 yards of offense, 13 first downs, and an average of 3.3 yards per play. They had the ball for nine and a half fewer minutes than the Giants. Another week, another miserable offensive performance. Hooray!
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Joe Milton gave us a few things to enjoy. His mobility prevented an already awful performance from looking even worse, and there were a couple of throws that showed why his arm talent is intriguing. But changing the quarterback hasn’t changed how I feel watching this offense. It is still boring, disjointed, and far too difficult. At this point, I want this staff to move on so I can start looking forward to a new season. It’s November! I’d like to feel excited about the Eagles’ offense again.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
Here come the 49ers
Although it seemed at times that they would find a way to lose the game, the Dallas Cowboys managed to prevail over the Indianapolis Colts. It didn’t exactly save a season that still is teetering on the edge of the precipice, and any good feelings from this win are likely to dissipate when Dallas host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Our Tom Ryle and Sean Martin take a look at what faces the Cowboys.
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I have to compare the narrow 27-23 win over the Colts to cotton candy. We wanted it, but it turned out to be messy and rather unsatisfying.
And it didn’t exactly presage a strong showing against the Niners, who are one of the best teams in the league. While Dallas has managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory more than once this season, San Francisco keeps finding ways to win with an injury list that runs on and on. They have a clearly winning culture, while the Cowboys have something. And there is absolutely no comparison between the head coaches.
If Dallas loses, especially by double digits, I think there will just be a sense of resignation and no expectations that the Cowboys can claw their way back into the playoffs.
The worst thing is how this all seems largely irrelevant. Not only have the Cowboys done nothing to really make us think they can win, they have also shown no carryover from a previous win.
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And if they do lose, we can just relax and start digging into potential draft picks and replacements for the coaching staff.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Upcoming opponent – Giants
Commanders next game is on Thursday Night Football in New York vs the Giants
Big Blue View
NY Giants-Washington Commanders not quite ‘for all the marbles’, but it’s big
Week 10 will be telling when it comes to the Giants’ path to an NFC East title
[T]his week could provide a massive swing for the Giants.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh was speaking specifically about the Commanders when he said the following, but the idea he was getting at applies to the week and the division as a whole:
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“This is for all the marbles. It’s a tie right now. This is the tiebreaker. It’s like going to the second half tied, you have a chance to go win the game right now and be one up on these guys for the rest of the season. So, it’s a big game.”
If the Giants lose Thursday and Dallas upsets the 49ers, this is what the NFC East would look like:
Giants 5-3-1
Dallas 5-5
Washington 3-5-1
Dallas would be just 1.5 games back, and the Commanders would be back in the hunt with eight games remaining.
Another slop-fest
The Week 5 game in Landover, Md. was a slop-fest played on grass in rainy, miserable conditions. This one promises to be a slop-fest played on Field Turf in rainy, miserable, cold conditions.
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This is the Thursday night forecast for East Rutherford, N.J. from the National Weather Service:
Rain. Low around 40. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half an inch possible.
The Giants lost a chance to win that game when a glove-less Skattebo fumbled away a scoring opportunity in overtime. The Giants have fumbled 14 times this season, losing six. Four teams have more fumbles than the Giants, with the Packers, Patriots, Chargers, and Saints all having 15.
Ball security will be at a premium Thursday night. That has, obviously, not been a Giants’ strength this season. Thus, it is worth paying attention to.
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Considering the likely conditions, it is also worth remembering that rookie placekicker Dominic Zvada went just 2 of 5 on field-goal tries against Washington the first time, missing from 50, 57, and 46 yards.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL midseason superlatives and lessons
Scoring holds steady
Teams have combined to score 45.93 points per game this season, according to NFL Research. That’s down slightly from 46.74 points per game halfway through last season, and a tick higher than the 45.36 points per game after nine weeks in 2024.
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Down to the wire
The league has seen plenty of close finishes this season. Through nine weeks, 77 games have come down to one score (eight or fewer points). That ties the 2016 season for the third-most through Week 9 in NFL history, trailing only the 2024 (79) and 2022 (79) seasons.
Of those 77 games, 41 have featured a game-winning score in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime. That’s the second-most through Week 9, trailing only the 2021 season, which featured 42 such finishes. In 25 games, the winning team rallied from at least 10 points down, which ties the 2011 season for the fourth-most in league history. That figure trails the 1987 (30), 2020 (26) and 2022 (26) seasons.
Special teams spike
The NFL implemented its “dynamic kickoff” before the 2024 season to help the play regain relevance after years of teams booming the ball out of the end zone and settling for touchbacks rather than risking big returns.
The changes have seemingly done the trick, as the number of kickoff returns (1,118) and kickoff return yards (28,896) mark the most in league history through nine weeks.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Daily Aiyuk
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
