Getting some extra time to rest and reflect was exactly what the Washington Commanders needed at this stage of the season. Their weary outing at the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football was lackluster. A sign that this surging squad was starting to feel the strain with their Week 14 bye looming large.
Having a mini-bye after their primetime game gave everyone some fresh juice. That will be needed in no uncertain terms heading into their crunch Week 12 contest against the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium.
Fans will be expecting a victory given how things have gone for the Cowboys this season. After getting more hype than they deserved before the campaign, things have crumbled dramatically. The Commanders will never get a better chance to flip the script of this storied rivalry.
This divisional clash will also have special significance for many. Several coaches and players were on the opposite sideline last season. Handling the pressure and getting Washington in the win column once again is the only thing that matters.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders firmly on the hot seat, for differing reasons, in Week 12 versus the Cowboys.
Commanders on the hot seat entering Week 12 vs. Cowboys
Commanders offensive tackles
We'll group all three offensive tackles projected to play together. They have one objective above all else in Week 12. That, of course, is to stop Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons from wreaking havoc in the backfield.
Parsons spent time on the shelf through injury this season. He's now back and eager to help Dallas get out of its concerning slump. The task facing Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, and rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman is steep. They must pass this test with flying colors.
The Washington Commanders cannot afford to give Parsons enough space to turn this game on its head. He's one of the few defensive players around the league with this rare trait - something Dan Quinn knows well and utilized to full effect during his time with the Cowboys.
He'll also know more than most about how best to counteract Parsons' supreme threat. That will only go so far. It's then up to the offensive tackle trio to execute Wasington's game plan effectively in a high-pressure setting.