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5 Commanders reality checks for must-win Week 16 game at San Francisco

By Tim Payne

Oct 23, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates as Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) looks on after connecting on a third down convewriosn against the Green Bay Packers /during the final minutes of the fourth quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates as Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) looks on after connecting on a third down convewriosn against the Green Bay Packers /during the final minutes of the fourth quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 06: head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders argues a call in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField on November 06, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 06: head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders argues a call in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField on November 06, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

1. The Reality Is, this coaching staff is a weird combination of stubborn and spontaneous at all the wrong times.

Ron Rivera punted from the +34 yard line in a massive divisional, playoff stakes game instead of pressing the gas and setting the tone. Faced with almost the exact same situation a few drives later, Brian Daboll went for (and got) a 4th and 9…one reason that play was successful against Washington? Jack Del Rio sent a safety blitz with soft zone behind it rather than sending Jamin Davis on a more traditional blitz with man coverage behind it…leaving a relatively easy completion open for John Elway (I mean Daniel Jones) to hit his rookie wideout for a first down. Del Rio tried a wide-9 technique with his ProBowl defensive tackles, and it backfired.

 I’ve discussed at length in various articles my frustrations with Rivera’s passivity and caution in his use of half-ending drives and clock management. He cost the team the Tennessee game by weirdly getting aggressive and wasting a timeout by challenging an obvious call. Offensively, Scott Turner went away from Brian Robinson and his 7.5 YPC average on Sunday to call more aggressive (and risky) plays, leading to Robinson having his lowest carry numbers since he’s been ramped up off the NFI list.

He called shot plays to Dyami Brown and then oddly shies away from forcing the ball to Terry McLaurin for whole halves of games.

With their backs against the wall, here’s hoping this coaching staff is aggressive in mindset and stubborn in sticking to what got them here coming down the stretch.

If the Commanders will stick with their best defensive players/packages, stick to their best offensive packages, and stay aggressive on special teams, this team can hang with anyone in the league. Will they do it? We’ll find out on Christmas Eve.

Give me your thoughts below in the comments section. Or, ping me on Twitter @TheRealityIs__ where I always post a few game-day gut-feel reality checks including a game prediction.

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