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Instant reactions to the Commanders convincing win over the Texans

By Jacob Troutman

Nov 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller (29) intercepts the ball against Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks (13) for a touchdown reception in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller (29) intercepts the ball against Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks (13) for a touchdown reception in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 20: head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders looks on before kickoff against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 20: head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders looks on before kickoff against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

3. Meaningful football on deck

At 6-5, the Commanders are firmly in the thick of the playoff race. In fact, an Arizona Cardinals win over the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow night would push Washington into the seventh seed in the NFC.

A massive game is on deck next week with the 5-6 Atlanta Falcons coming to the DMV. Then back-to-back massive games against the New York Giants await. After starting 1-4, Washington finds itself relevant in the playoff once again.

Ron Rivera has his faults and might be too old-fashioned for the modern game sometimes. You cannot deny his ability to galvanize his teams though. They fight. They play their best ball with their backs against the wall, and they get better consistently as the years progress.

This makes it a perfect three-for-three for Rivera to get his teams to be relevant in November (and December) despite poor starts. Now, if they could fix those poor starts, the need for perfection in the colder months wouldn’t be so apparent.

Moreover, this year fills a bit different for Washington. Yeah, they still have that same need to tight-rope their way to wins sometimes. The quarterback play is still lackluster. However, everything else is different.

The defense is dominant. The playmakers on offense can help the quarterback situation. And Washington dug out of the hole sooner than they did in 2020 (2-7) and 2021 (2-6). There is a bit more margin for error this time around.

For the third year in a row, Washington will be in the playoff picture. For a little bit longer than most, at least. And with a palooza of off-the-field distractions in those three years present, Rivera has done an admirable job.

He hasn’t been perfect. It has been ugly sometimes. They win ugly, most of the time, too. But overall Rivera is doing exactly what he has been tasked to do— improve the culture on the football side. The players are buying in, they are having fun, and they are winning. As ugly as it is at times, they are playing some of their best football.

And after the most dominating and stress-free win of the Rivera era since Thanksgiving 2020, Rivera and his staff deserve a ton of credit.

Buckle up, Washington fans. Meaningful football is on the way.

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