Weather report provides another tricky Commanders hurdle in Week 1

The Washington Commanders have a lot on their plate entering Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dan Quinn and his coaching staff must mesh a new-look roster that looks entirely different following wholesale alterations from general manager Adam Peters. That's a tough task in itself, but there might be elements outside of their control to contend with to further complicate matters.

Florida is normally hot and humid this time of year. That brings glorious weather more often than not. However, it can also lead to significant downpours and severe thunderstorms for good measure.

Commanders must prepare for indifferent weather in Week 1 at the Buccaneers

This is something the Commanders should be preparing for. The forecast for Week 1 at Raymond James Stadium isn't especially promising. Heavy rain is expected to start the game according to NFL Weather. The visibility is projected to be at just 10 meters with humidity sitting at 72 percent.

Football players have to compete in different kinds of climates despite the increased domes around the league. That said, the current weather forecast will no doubt come into offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's thought process when devising Washington's scripted plays for the clash.

Over the final three-quarters of the contest, the chance of rain stands at 35 percent with scattered thunder throughout the region. Humidity will range from 75-83 percent, to this is going to be a stern test of conditioning despite each player putting in the hard yards over the summer at training camp.

One solace for the Commanders is the cloud cover and very little wind during the game. This should make things easier if the ball doesn't become too slippy. It bears more importance for kicker Cade York, who's looking to make the No. 1 spot his long-term after Washington secured his services via trade from the Cleveland Browns.

Quinn is experienced enough to make plans for every eventuality. The weather will be the same for both teams. And unless some players have been cocooned in paradise throughout their football journey, they've all played in the rain before.

It's something worth taking into account, but the end goal remains the same.

The Commanders need to immediately show the NFL world that they are not going to be walkovers anymore. This is a team that's going to be physical, fundamentally sound, and capable of giving anyone a run for their money. If they can make the league sit up and take notice right out of the gate, the better their chances of thriving in 2024 will be.

No amount of bad or good weather is going to change that. However, fans attending the game might consider packing or wearing some waterproofs just in case.

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