WATCH: Washington's Rivera on Cancer, Voting & the 'Least'

Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera addresses the media on Monday morning for the first time since his cancer treatments finished.

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera is now a recovering cancer patient and the leader of a 2-5 team in the thick of things in the NFC East (Least?). 

Rivera on Monday met with reporters for the first time since right after last week's 25-3 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys. 

In a wide-ranging chat, Rivera touches on football, politics and cancer-survival strategy. 

Washington Football Team | Press Conference https://t.co/hydG5OgSUR

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 2, 2020

Football: 

Rivera was asked about Dustin Hopkins and his struggles this year. Normally reliable, Hopkins has missed an extra point attempt. He's 8-of-12 on the year overall but has missed over half of his kicks from 40-plus. 

On a team with very little margin for error, it's a big problem.

Rivera still supports Dustin Hopkins who has struggled this year. Doesn't seem like a change is coming soon but a bad miss against #NYG could obviously flip that script. He didn't say that. I did.

— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) November 2, 2020

Rivera addressed the Eric Reid offer and how it unfolded ... 

Lots of respect between Ron Rivera and Eric Reid, but Rivera says he wants to give his young guys first crack at the vacant safety position, pic.twitter.com/3li726EICb

— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) November 2, 2020

Then there's the mantra of "Just win, baby" or ....."Just win enough, baby''?

Ron Rivera on the NFC East. "It doesn't matter how you get in. However you can get in, get in." pic.twitter.com/wFJFNLCMzX

— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) November 2, 2020

And then there was the thing that matters so much from a football point of view: establishing the run and using it to set up your entire offense. This answer should make anyone with common sense giddy. ...

I just got a terrific answer from @RiverboatRonHC on running the football and running it early ("establishing the run") and the long term effects on the rest of the "O".

He's sooo right. As I've hammered home despite the analytics that suggest otherwise. #WashingtonFootball

— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) November 2, 2020

Cancer Treatments: 

Rivera has been dealing with cancer since August while still coaching the team and missing just a few practices. 

As we wrote last week, Rivera finished his treatments last Monday and was able to use the bye week to re-charge his batteries. 

Most notably on Rivera's mind was not necessarily about himself but what happens if someone in a regular job suffers the same diagnosis?

Ron Rivera says his cancer treatments have shown him how unfair it is that America doesn't make high-quality health care available to everyone, regardless of income. pic.twitter.com/pawaSGGWhg

— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) November 2, 2020

Politics: 

Election Day in the United States is Tuesday.

Ron Rivera says the election has been a hot topic in the locker room, and he's pleased to see his players take an interest in the process. pic.twitter.com/6wFzhGh7l9

— michael phillips (@michaelpinRVA) November 2, 2020

It's important in the country. And it's important in the building.