The Washington Commanders got a huge win on Monday Night Football, and Ron Rivera was thinking of his mother who recently passed.
Sports frequently feel larger than life. For Ron Rivera on Monday, it definitely felt like the Washington Commanders rivalry game against the Philadelphia Eagles went a little beyond the natural world.
Rivera’s mother passed away on November 1st. The Commanders lost the first game after her passing last week against the Minnesota Vikings, but this week against the Eagles, the Commanders stood tall and handed the Eagles their first loss of the season, winning 32-21 on the road.
For Ron Rivera, it meant a lot as the first win after his mother passed away.
Emotions were running high in Commanders locker room for Ron Rivera, team
The Commanders Tweeted out a video of Ron Rivera giving a locker room speech after the game, it’s definitely worth a watch.
“My mother would have been proud,” coach Rivera said before walking off to collect himself. Team captain Terry McLaurin stepped up and gave a speech after that in what many have pointed to as an incredible showing of leadership and maturity from the wide receiver.
McLaurin had 128 receiving yards on eight catches on Monday night.
It’s a great moment, especially for Commanders fans who have had to endure a pretty brutal news cycle this season.
The Commanders sit at 5-5, two behind the Cowboys in the loss column for third in the NFC East. With a win over the Eagles, though, it certainly brings up questions about how good the Commanders are, especially since they seem poised to go toward Taylor Heinicke as the starter, now, who is 3-1 this year.
Next up the Commanders have the Texans on the road.