Washington Commanders 'Got to Start Winning Football Games!' Says Ron Rivera
The Washington Commanders gave the Seattle Seahawks all they could handle at Lumen Field in a 29-26 loss, but it was again a loss by a single score (fourth of the season).
While getting close in games is noteworthy, the Commanders' season is in danger of slipping away despite Sam Howell again showing that he might be the franchise quarterback they have been looking for.
But for head coach Ron Rivera, if the offense under Howell were what they thought it would be, they would be better than what the team is now.
“Well, if everything was coming together, you'd like to think we'd be better than we are right now, but you are what your record says you are," Rivera said. "And with the number of games we have left, obviously we've got to make hay. We've got to start winning football games and at a more consistent rate, obviously.”
The Commanders' season isn't over by a long shot, as at 4-6, they are still in the mix in the NFC, but as Rivera stated, they need to start winning games.
Part of that is becoming a more consistent team in all three phases, and at times during games, Washington goes through periods where there's no production. Against the Seahawks, the Commanders had three straight possessions that ended in punts and collectively had 14 plays for just 10 yards.
Despite Sam Howell's progression, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera says the team needs to start winning games.
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For Rivera, the way to stop that is to make plays consistently, but he stressed that the team is still finding its feet.
“It's about making plays,” Rivera said. “It's about being consistent. I think that's the biggest thing. Whether it's something that goes up front with the line or something with the execution, or maybe it could have been a different call, but it's still trying to find our footing as a unit. And that's for both sides of the ball, offensively, defensively. It's one of those things that collectively, somewhere along the line, something is still being developed and learning and understanding.”
Playing the type of consistent football that Rivera wants will be a challenging thing to do over the next few weeks as, after the New York Giants, Washington then faces the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins before their late-season bye.
Getting that winning momentum back against the Giants is job one. Then, the games against the Cowboys and Dolphins will see exactly how far this Washington team has come under Howell and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
As Rivera stated, the team needs to start winning football games, and if that can't be achieved, then it will be the sixth straight season for a Rivera-led team that won't have a winning record.
