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5 Commanders reality checks for Week 8 against the Colts

By Tim Payne

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Terry McLaurin #17 celebrates after catching a touchdown reception during the third quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on October 23, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Terry McLaurin #17 celebrates after catching a touchdown reception during the third quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on October 23, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 09: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders reacts before the game against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 09: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders reacts before the game against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

4. The Reality Is, Ron Rivera can’t coach not to lose.

The Commanders’ don’t have the roster talent to overcome the version of Ron Rivera’s game-management that simply coaches not to lose. The margin of error is too thin to add difficulty via coaching blunders. Rivera’s decision to throw on 3rd and 9 with just over two minutes left on Sunday was an example of coaching to win.

Rivera needs to duplicate that effort and cultivate that mentality if Washington is to beat out the Colts for entry into the four-win club. All too often, Rivera takes the uber-conservative approach to debatable coaching scenarios and that doesn’t serve his team. Here’s hoping Rivera has enough confidence in Heinicke, Scott Turner and the rest of this team to put them in aggressive, winning, situations rather than conservative, white-knuckle situations.

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