When so much is new in this season, commanders tend to fall back on the same old struggles.

When the Commanders last traveled to Dallas, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, and Daniel and Tanya Snyder of Washington stood at midfield for a picture that the Commanders later shared on social media with the caption, “Friends and rivals for 24 years.”

With the changes that Washington’s NFL team has undergone since then, October 2, 2022, almost seems like a century ago. Josh Harris and his group of twenty partners are in; the Snyders are out. Many of the supporters who had left have come back, and for the first time in years, football has taken center stage rather than federal inquiries into the team’s working conditions.

However, the team has demonstrated that it is still not there, despite a statement made earlier this year by team president Jason Wright that the Commanders had “righted the ship” and were “ready to go on a championship voyage.” With jobs at stake, Washington, who is 4-7, will play the formidable Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in back-to-back games.

Additionally, some in Washington argue that even though there is a renewed focus on the field, those who are actually on it need to focus even more.

Coach Ron Rivera stated on Monday that “as an organization, as a team, and as individuals, there’s some maturing that we have to do.” “And hopefully, as we develop and learn, we’ll be able to learn from those mistakes and not repeat them.”

In 2021, following Washington’s triumphant first season under his leadership—which featured a postseason appearance and a defensive revival—Riva preached maturity once again. At that time, he was concerned about whether his players knew what it took to be good on a consistent basis, not just for one year but for several.

It’s the same issue he has now.

“In my opinion, it’s not about creating a play and celebrating it,” he remarked. “Yeah, if it’s something big and spectacular, like a 70-yard touchdown run or a massive interception, then sure. I honestly believe that knowing the difference between that and something more trivial is important. To me, consistency stems from the ability to remain concentrated and maintain that focus every single time. You are not allowed to daydream. You must maintain your attention on the assigned work. The goal is to win the game, not the play.

Although there are many causes for Washington’s problems, they are mostly unchanged from previous years. The group tends to get in its own way and is inconsistent. The offense has seen ups and downs, and the defense has given up a league-high 88 explosive plays (passes of 16 yards or more, or runs of 12 yards or more). Sam Howell, the quarterback, threw three touchdown passes in Seattle and three interceptions in the New York Giants game. Six Washington errors gave the Giants 17 points. Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., tight end Logan Thomas, and kick returner Byron Pringle all fumbled.