Three things the Redskins can learn from the 2020 playoffs
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – Culture matters
Culture indeed matters in NFL football, and while it’s not hard to come to that conclusion without the help of outside resources, the physical example that playoff football provides is more than enough evidence to support the notion.
A strong culture serves as a deal breaker of sorts. If your team makes it to the playoffs without a strong culture, it’ll get weeded out fairly quickly. The Redskins of the twenty-first century have experienced this exactly four times. Teams with strong cultures, conversely, have a foundational match with other teams of the same nature, giving them a common ground on which to compete.
A strong culture can help unheralded teams defy the odds and beat perceivably more talented or more established teams, as we’ve seen with the Tennessee Titans so far this playoff season. The Titans bested the New England Patriots in the wild card round, then came to Baltimore and dominated the unsuspecting Ravens. The Titans have plenty of talent, but they were clear underdogs in both these games, and yet, they won both.
Other teams in the championship round like the Chiefs, 49ers, and Packers are all known for their strong cultures, among other things. It’s the factor that gets you to this stage. And it’s ultimately what the Redskins need Ron Rivera to give them.