Joe Theismann recognizes the importance of Sunday's game for the Washington Commanders.
Washington caps the NFL International Series with a matchup against the Miami Dolphins in the NFL Madrid Game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET, and 3:30 p.m. Local time.
Theismann spent the week in Madrid as part of a partnership with USAA. Theismann, Alejandro Villanueva and Ryan Tannehill helped organize a flag football tournament for U.S. Military members Wednesday.
The winners earned tickets to Sunday's game between the Commanders and Dolphins – which is just Washington's second international game in franchise history. The Commanders are trying to break a five-game losing streak that has derailed the season.
"At this stage of the season, you just want to get a win," Theismann told AllSportsPeople. "You don't worry about four or five weeks down the road and what position you're going to be in. This to me is monumental for us. To lose six in a row is something this team has not done in a long time, especially coming off the year they had last year."
Theismann, of course, played quarterback for Washington from 1974-85. Perhaps this game can be a momentum-changer for the Commanders. Theismann looks at the other sideline. Miami is coming off a 30-13 win against Buffalo in Week 10.
"You look at Miami two weeks ago then you look at Miami this week. They are two entirely different football teams."
Theismann talked about the Commanders' struggles, Jayden Daniels' injury, the NFL overseas and his Super Bowl XVII memories with SN.
Joe Theismann on Commanders' struggles, Jayden Daniels
On Tuesday, Washington announced coach Dan Quinn will take over play-calling duties for defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The Commanders – a team that made the NFC championship game last season – have allowed 35.8 points per game through a five-game losing streak. Detroit beat Washington 44-22 in Week 10 after Dan Campbell took over play-calling on offense in Detroit.
Will that have the same effect in Washington?
"Take a look at what Dan Campbell did with the offense up in Detroit," Theismann said. “If the head coach isn't satisfied with the results with what he is seeing or he wants or he gets, then he has to do something. You just can't continue to do the same thing. They've giving up a lot of points through this five-game losing streak and it's really something they have to try and stop."
Theismann also saw when Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in a 38-14 loss to Seattle on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 2. Theismann suffered a career-ending leg injury on Monday Night Football. Theismann said, "In Washington, we've had our share of ugly injuries."
Daniels' timetable for return this season remains uncertain – but he is not on injured reserve.
"My advice is he doesn't touch the field until he's 100 percent – 1,000 percent healthy," Theismann said. "I believe he probably should go back and play. Irrespective of what the record will be at some point in time, if he's ready to go (he should play). He doesn't touch that field until he's completely medically cleared and the coaches are satisfied that this particular situation is not going to occur again."
Theismann also said he would encourage Daniels to protect himself on running plays. Daniels has a history of taking nasty hits dating back to his time as a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at LSU.
"The other thing I try to tell young players is don't count on the rules to protect you,“ Theismann said. “You protect yourself. Run out of bounds. Slide. Throw the ball away. There's always another down."
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Joe Theismann on NFL game in Madrid
The NFL Madrid Game concludes the NFL International Series for 2025. The seven-game series has been a success. The average attendance for the first six international games has been 67,021 – which is in line with 2025 NFL attendance figures. That figure increased to 86,152 at Wembley Stadium when the Rams beat the Jaguars 35-7.
The other five games were decided by six points or less. From that perspective, the International Series has been a success.
"I think it is good for the NFL to be able to do this, to be able to share the NFL with the world,” Theismann said. " It exposes people to the NFL because there are fans around the world. Look at the attendance at these games, and it just gives you an indication and idea of how much everyone loves the NFL. If it wasn't a good idea and it wasn't something that people wanted to see, then people wouldn't show up like they do."
Joe Theismann on Super Bowl XVII memories
The Commanders-Dolphins matchup also holds a special place for Theismann, who is quick to point out he was drafted by the Dolphins in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Theismann spent three seasons in the CFL before signing with Washington in 1974.
Theismann led Washington to a berth in Super Bowl XVII against Miami on Jan. 30, 1983. Theismann threw two TDs in a 27-17 victory, but it was a head's-up play on a tipped pass that he remembers most.
Washington trailed 17-13 late in the third quarter when Theismann knocked a would-be interception return for a TD out of the hands of Miami linebacker Kim Bokamper.
With 1:48 left in the third quarter of Super Bowl XVII and trailing 17-13, #WashingtonFootball QB Joe Theismann's pass is batted in the air by the #Dolphins' Kim Bokamper.
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 31, 2023
Theismann alertly sticks his hand in to prevent a pick-six for Bokamper, which probably saved their season. Pic.twitter.com/rITj2mNybP
"The ball is spinning motion – I can see all the little rivets on the ball – and all of a sudden Kim puts his arms out to catch the ball in the end zone, which would have been devastating for us because we weren't a throw it around ball club, and that would have been terrible," Theismann said. "I managed to strip the ball away from him and I remember sitting in the end zone looking at him and saying, ‘Boy that was close.' That particular play to me was the most memorable part of Super Bowl XVII, and running off the field knowing we were the world champions was just special. It was an incredible experience for us."
USAA
Joe Theismann on USAA partnership
Theismann toured Naval Station Rota in Cadiz, Spain. On Tuesday, military members competed in a flag-football tournament.
"To be here with everybody, it's just incredible. I have so much respect for the military," Theismann said. "This was a way for USAA to say thank you to all of those that are part of the military. It was a great experience. Great competition. One of my teams lost in the championship, OK, but I can relate to that. I had a couple of those."