Dan Quinn doesn’t challenge controversial catch by DeVonta Smith

Couldn’t difficult a call come back to haunt Dan Quinn?

The Commanders head coach didn’t throw the red challenge flag on a questionable catch by Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith in the primary quarter with Washington down 7-3 in Sunday’s NFC championship game in Philadelphia. 

The 20-yard pass to Smith along the sideline put the Eagles deep inside Commanders’ territory, but upon closer examination, it looked as if Smith didn’t have each feet inbounds. 

Smith’s left foot could be very clearly down, but his right foot was dangerously near the sideline and there seemed to be an argument to be made whether it was inbounds or not. 

Quinn never took out the challenge flag, though, and the chance disappeared when the Eagles rushed to the road of scrimmage and got the subsequent play off. 

The Commanders didn’t get off to one of the best start on Sunday, with a visit to Super Bowl 2025 on the road. 

Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley rushed for a 60-yard touchdown on Philly’s second offensive play of the sport. 

Washington fumbled on their next possession after which Barkley scored his second touchdown of the sport on a 4-yard run.

Quinn did show a little bit of ingenuity when he ran a fake punt pass to maintain a late first quarter drive alive. 

The play allowed the Commanders to eventually kick a 46-yard field goal to make it a 14-6 deficit. 

Nonetheless, things didn’t get a lot better after that with the Eagles putting up 27 first-half points and going into the locker room with a 27-15 lead. 

Quinn is in his first yr as the pinnacle coach of the Commanders and will Washington win on Sunday, he would turn out to be just the eighth coach to take two different teams to the Super Bowl.

Quinn coached the Falcons in a loss to the Patriots — after holding a 28-3 lead — in Super Bowl LI.

Washington can be making its first appearance in 33 years.