Ron Rivera Says Commanders Are 'Ready To Go' vs. 'Elite' Bills
When a team is on the verge of breaking out, there's usually a stiff test that can serve as a catapult to another level. For the Washington Commanders (2-0), that test comes in the form of the Buffalo Bills (1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at FedEx Field.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera noted the task at hand in facing the Bills and the magnitude of facing a team of their caliber.
“Pretty big. To me, I mean, it really is," Rivera said. "They're one of the elite teams in the AFC. I know they're 1-1, but records don't mean anything in this situation. This is one of the elite teams coming in and we've got to gear up, we've got to practice, prepare, get ourselves ready to go, and give us a great opportunity to see where we stand.”
Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera and his staff coaching against the Arizona Cardinals.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo has won the AFC East in each of the last three seasons and has made four consecutive playoff appearances. While they're in a different conference, the standard Sean McDermott and the Bills have created is one that Washington is striving to replicate.
The Bills got back on track with a 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Josh Allen led the way, completing 31 of 37 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
Buffalo's defense held the Raiders to just three points after scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard each had an interception in the win.
The Commanders have shown signs of turning the corner through their first two games of the season after coming back in the second half to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-16 on Sept. 10 and the Denver Broncos 35-33 on Sunday. Sam Howell had the best performance of his young career, completing 27 of 39 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. also broke out in a big way against the Broncos with a career-high 129 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Washington's defensive line also showed up in a big way with Daron Payne, Montez Sweat and Chase Young combining for four of the team's seven sacks against the Broncos. After falling behind 21-3 with 9:01 left in the second quarter, Washington responded by outscoring them 32-3 until there was 1:53 left in the game.
If Washington wants to prove it belongs in the conversation among the NFL elite, it'll have the perfect test in front of them on Sunday.
“I think it's an opportunity for us to establish who we are and who we can be," Rivera said. "This is a very good measuring stick. What they've done for the last four or five years, especially with the young quarterback [Josh Allen] now he's coming into his own."
