Kliff Kingsbury has quickly become a central figure in Washington D.C., as his innovative approach to offense has helped transform the Washington Commanders into one of the most potent scoring teams in the NFL this season.
As the team’s offensive coordinator, Kingsbury has shown a remarkable ability to put rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in positions to succeed, while crafting game plans that maximize the talent at his disposal. Now, in his first season with the Commanders, he faces an important test as the team looks to avoid the late-season collapses that have marked his previous stints as a head coach and coordinator.
Through the first 10 weeks of the 2024 season, the Commanders are averaging 29.0 points per game, a mark that places them tied for third in the NFL. This offensive explosion puts Washington on pace for their highest-scoring season since 1991, when the team led the league with 30.3 points per game. Moreover, the Commanders are leading the NFL in points per drive, with an impressive 2.95 points scored per possession — the fifth-most since 2000. These numbers reflect a dramatic shift from previous seasons, showcasing Kingsbury’s ability to bring the best out of his players.
Even head coach Dan Quinn has expressed admiration for Kingsbury’s work this season. “A lot that I’ve grown to appreciate,” Quinn said, via the team’s official transcript. “I’ve found out the competitor that he is and the detail that he wants to get to with the group.” Quinn added that the Commanders believe there is even more potential in the offense, with plenty of room for development. “Kliff’s a really big part of that,” Quinn continued. “He’s got incredibly high standards for the group. He’s got a very creative mind.”
While Kingsbury’s success in Washington has earned him praise, the trajectory of his career raises an important question: Can he overcome his history of late-season offensive struggles? Throughout his coaching career, Kingsbury’s teams have faced a familiar pattern — an impressive start to the season followed by a significant decline as the year progresses. As both an NFL head coach and coordinator, his winning percentage drops dramatically after Week 9. From 2013 to 2018, Kingsbury’s Texas Tech teams posted a .602 win percentage in the first nine weeks of the season, but that number plummeted to just .281 in the final weeks. Similarly, at USC in 2023, Kingsbury’s offense struggled down the stretch, posting a 1-3 record in games after Week 10.
This trend has led some to wonder whether Kingsbury’s inability to adjust when defenses catch up to his schemes is a fundamental flaw in his coaching. Given that he’s now working with a talented but inexperienced quarterback in Jayden Daniels, the pressure to avoid a similar second-half fade is more intense than ever. Despite the Commanders’ solid offensive performance thus far, there are growing concerns that the lack of sustained success late in the season could hinder Washington’s playoff aspirations.
The most recent game — a disappointing 242-yard offensive showing in a Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions — serves as a reminder of the challenges Kingsbury must overcome. In that game, the Commanders struggled mightily to get anything going, suffering five three-and-outs and six punts, both of which marked season-highs for the team. The inability to generate sustained offense in the second half against a competitive team like the Lions could be an early warning sign of a larger issue for Washington’s offense.
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However, the 2024 season is still young, and Kingsbury has an opportunity to prove that his offenses are capable of sustaining success into the latter half of the season. The Commanders’ offense is built around playmakers like Daniels, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and a dynamic running game. If Kingsbury can continue to get the most out of his personnel, there is a legitimate chance for Washington to keep pace with the league’s top offenses and avoid the late-season struggles that have plagued his previous teams.
Starting on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kingsbury will face another crucial test. The Eagles have an improved defense this season, and if the Commanders are to remain in playoff contention, they will need to find ways to execute effectively against a defense that will no doubt adjust to the high-powered offense Kingsbury has installed. It’s a matchup that could go a long way toward proving whether Kingsbury’s offense can withstand the pressure of a playoff race or if history will repeat itself with another second-half collapse.
The Commanders’ current situation presents Kingsbury with an opportunity to shed the narrative that his offenses falter down the stretch. If he can lead Washington to sustained success throughout the second half of the season, he will not only secure his place as a key architect of the Commanders’ revival but also prove that he has the ability to adjust and evolve when it matters most.
For now, the focus is on building on the strong start and finding ways to stay ahead of the competition in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive NFC East. With players like Daniels, McLaurin, and an efficient rushing attack at his disposal, Kingsbury has the tools to guide Washington through the challenges of the second half. However, whether he can avoid the late-season slide that has marred his past remains to be seen.
As the Commanders enter the final stretch of the 2024 season, Kliff Kingsbury faces a defining moment in his coaching career. Can he continue to execute his high-octane offense in the face of increasing pressure, or will his past struggles with late-season adjustments come to the forefront? Only time will tell, but the next few weeks could prove pivotal in shaping the future of the Commanders’ season — and Kingsbury’s tenure in Washington.
