Commanders aim to fix third downs to boost rushing attack
On Nov. 10, 2026, the Washington Commanders said they will emphasize fixing third-down conversion problems to generate more chances to run the ball over the final nine games, coach Dan Quinn said Monday. Quinn said sustaining drives and converting third downs will be a central focus as the team tries to leverage a rushing attack that has shown promise. The coach stressed that improved third-down play would create more opportunities to hand the ball off and stabilize the offense. “That’s what I want us to do, man,” Quinn said.
The Commanders have struggled to stay on the field, ranking last in the NFL in third-down conversion rate at 31.13 percent and going 3-of-12 on third downs against the Los Angeles Rams. Washington averages 62 plays per game, which is 16th in the league, but drive-to-drive performance has been uneven. Of 90 drives this season, 40 lasted five plays or fewer while only 25 extended to eight plays or more; 13 drives reached at least 10 plays. That inconsistency has limited the offense’s ability to build longer possessions.
Washington’s rushing numbers are mixed: the team ranks 11th in rushing with just over 118 yards per game but sits 25th in rushing attempts. Jayden Daniels has 31 carries and leads the team with 252 rushing yards, but Pro Football Focus counts only four of those as designed runs and 27 as scrambles. Removing Daniels’ scrambles would push the Commanders closer to the bottom of the league in designed rushing attempts. Quinn linked the lack of sustained drives directly to the limited volume for the running game.
The Rams game illustrated the problem. Washington had 46 rushing yards at halftime and finished with 60, and the offense ran the ball only six times in the second half, two of which were Daniels scrambles. The Commanders ran just 10 plays in the third quarter, faced seven third downs—four of them requiring at least eight yards—and converted only three, the final one a 20-yard catch-and-run by Chig Okonkwo. Quinn said fixing first- and second-down inefficiencies to improve third-down success will be a major point of emphasis this week as the team prepares to get more “at bats” for the run game.
Quinn said the team will make third-down improvement an emphasis in preparation for its rematch with the New York Giants. The Giants rank 11th in allowed third-down conversion rate, which presents a challenge, but they are in the bottom third of the league in rushing yards allowed per game. If Washington can extend drives and convert more third downs, it could increase opportunities to attack the Giants’ run defense. Quinn said the Commanders must find ways to stay on the field and keep attacking.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Commanders have identified a clear operational problem: they cannot stay on the field, and that is suppressing designed rushing attempts despite strong per-game rushing production. Statistical indicators in the team report show frequent short drives and a league-worst third-down conversion rate, which directly limit running-back carries and scripted run plays. Improving first- and second-down efficiency to reduce long third-down situations would logically increase run volume, a point Quinn emphasized repeatedly. With a rematch against a Giants defense that is middle of the pack on third downs but vulnerable against the run, Washington has a tangible opportunity to convert better situational play into more rushing attempts if it can sustain drives.