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5 Commanders reality checks for Week 9 against the Vikings

By Tim Payne

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the third quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on October 23, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 23: Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the third quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on October 23, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Oct 23, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) converts a third down in the final two minutes of the game at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) converts a third down in the final two minutes of the game at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Reality Is, Rivera must take the handcuffs off Turner and Heinicke.

Outside of the egg they laid on MNF against the Eagles, this Minnesota team has scored no less than 23 points in any game this season, and is averaging nearly 28 points per game. If Rivera and company are game-planning to find a win without surpassing the paltry 15.6 points they’ve been average the last 5 games, they’re going to be sorely disappointed with the result on Sunday.

Rivera cannot allow another “scared” gameplan. He can’t dictate extreme caution if Washington gets the ball with time and timeouts left at the end of the first half. The plan cannot be “3-and-out-and-hope-Tress-Way-bails-us-out”. The Commanders must come into the game Sunday with a gameplan designed for the  expectation that the offense is going to have to move the ball with consistency and put up at least 24 points to win.

Washington won’t beat Minnesota in a slug-fest. They need to outscore them.

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