Kayon Thibodeaux fans the flames ahead of Commanders' clash in Week 2

The Washington Commanders have been kicked when they're down for the last 20 years. They are working hard to change the narrative, but it could be a while before perceptions are altered around the league.

This is especially evident within the NFC East. Aside from winning the division almost by default in 2020, the Commanders have propped up the rest in recent seasons. The other three have either won Super Bowls or gone close while Washington has remained largely irrelevant. It's time to fight back.

Things didn't go well in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nobody was expecting perfection right out of the gate, but there is a lot of hard work ahead for the Commanders to reach some loftier expectations under head coach Dan Quinn's guidance. This starts by getting their campaign up and running at home to the New York Giants this weekend.

Kayvon Thibodeaux doesn't think too much of the Commanders

Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux fanned the flames ahead of the clash. The former first-round pick claimed he didn't see the Commanders as a rival given their plight into obscurity. However, the Oregon product is looking forward to testing his skills versus rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels - a player he knows well.

"I would say Washington, in particular, you know, they're not really a rival but they are, uh, what do you call it, in conference? Yeah. They're in our division so it's always a great game. We see them twice a year, so I'm excited. Jayden Daniels is a great quarterback. He's from Cali. Grew up knowing him. Grew up with him. So I understand he's a great player and I'm excited to go against him."

- Kayvon Thibodeaux

This was a bold statement considering the egg Thibodeaux and the Giants laid against the Minnesota Vikings. They are amid a freefall and seemingly going nowhere fast under head coach Brian Daboll. But this is another fine example of how New York is also seeing this as a get-right game versus a team they've got the better of more often than not.

The Giants currently hold a 108-71-5 all-time advantage against Washington. That's largely down to the two decades of dismay under Dan Synder's ownership. It's all changed now, but the Commanders can only shift the narrative themselves.

Thibodeaux is still feeling himself despite gaining zero tackles, zero sacks, and one quarterback hit during a woeful outing in Week 1. It's not hard to see why considering how much success he's had clashing with Washington since entering the league as the No. 5 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

In just four games, Thibodeaux has 5.5 sacks, 26 tackles, seven tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown. He'll no doubt be aiming to add to these prolific numbers at Northwest Stadium, so the Commanders must be ready for the stern challenge that awaits them.

This is all the bulletin board material they need. Motivation shouldn't be an issue in front of an expectant fanbase for their home opener. If this helps the offensive line gain a little extra focus and aggression, so be it.

Winning cures all. Do that, and Thibodeaux won't have any jibes left to make.

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