Is Dan Quinn concerned about the Commanders fracturing during losing streak?

The Washington Commanders fell to 3-7 after Sunday's 44-22 loss to the Detroit Lions. It was Washington's fifth straight loss, one season removed from winning 12 games and making it to the NFC Championship game.

Injuries have been a major problem for Washington on both sides of the ball. However, they don't explain everything. Some personnel moves haven't worked as anticipated, and some of the healthy players from last season have regressed, raising questions about the coaching.

Sometimes, when teams keep losing, frustration boils over, and players can point fingers at one another or at coaches. Some of those frustrations were evident in the second quarter of Sunday's game, when defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected for throwing a punch at Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Right after the play, fellow defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, apparently defending Payne, made contact with an official and was flagged.

Kinlaw said after the game that St. Brown threw the first punch.

Regardless, it was the first time during the Dan Quinn era that we've seen frustrations boil over on the field.

Quinn preaches culture and brotherhood and has said throughout the season that the brotherhood remains strong and would lead the Commanders through the tough times. Washington players often talk about brotherhood, too.

So, is Quinn concerned about the team fracturing in this difficult stretch?

"No, I worry about the emotion of it, but not the fracture," Quinn said Sunday. "They're tight, they're connected, the work's there, frustration, visibly upset, just why isn't it going like we wanted to, and that's kind of what I was referring to earlier, a little bit about it's not the worst thing to go away together right now. And it's kind of like, not going away to camp, but going away. Alright, let's talk through, find these spaces, and it might be these small things that we need to do differently that can add to it. Everybody's searching, we're frustrated, players, coaches, everyone, but ultimately, like I said, first things first, man. Just into this week, what can we do better? Heading into this game and then breathe and, okay, next step and then I'll go from there."

Fans are frustrated. The high expectations entering the season feel like a long time ago. The playoffs are out of reach. Sure, seven games remain, but the NFC is tough, and the Commanders have already lost six games in the conference.

Quinn sounds as if he has tried several things and is hoping a bonding trip to Spain will be exactly what the team needs to pick up a much-needed win.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Is Dan Quinn concerned about losing the team?