MADRID — When asked if he would support playing an international game every year, Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn considered the question carefully before offering his thoughts on the NFL’s expanding global footprint.
His team is in Madrid to face the Miami Dolphins at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday. The matchup marks the seventh and final international game of the season, the most the league has ever scheduled in a single year.
With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell advocating for each team to eventually play one game abroad annually, Quinn acknowledged the logistical hurdles but saw significant benefits, particularly for his 3-7 squad looking to break a five-game losing streak.
“I personally like getting the team together,” Quinn said, emphasizing the bonding opportunity. “I don’t know if there’s a science behind that, but I know what that energy can look like when you connect.”
He praised the meticulous planning involved, noting that a well-structured travel schedule is crucial for player adaptation. The Commanders arrived in Madrid on Tuesday morning after a Monday night departure, immediately holding a workout to help players adjust to the time zone and establish a new routine.
“We knew it hurts a little bit in the beginning of the week, but then as you get closer to game day, man, you’re ready to perform,” Quinn explained.
However, he identified the disruption to player routines as the primary challenge of an extended road trip. “The toughest thing is probably adapting to a new environment,” he said. “When you do an extended trip, now there’s ‘Where do I go for treatment? Where do I go for the recovery work, the locker room?’ So, finding those spaces and getting into that vibe, it takes a few days.”
This is Washington’s first international game since playing in London in 2016. In contrast, the Dolphins are making their eighth regular-season appearance abroad, second only to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With this season’s finale, the NFL will have played over 60 regular-season games in cities including London, Munich, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City. As the league prepares to host a game in Australia next year, the travel and logistical challenges highlighted by Quinn will become an even greater focus for teams.
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