When it comes to rivalries, there’s nothing coincidental Washington Commanders against the Dallas Cowboys. They’ll begin Week 12 against the Cowboys, a game that’s about more than the standings: it’s about pride, bragging rights and setting the tone for the second half of the season.

But before we can focus on silencing Cowboys fans at Northwest Stadium, Commanders Head coach Dan Quinn is making sure the team resets with the right mindset after two disappointing losses. Enter “Tell the Truth Monday,” a staple in Quinn’s playbook to start the week.

“Today is our important day for us. It’s a really important day,” Washington said the head coach when talking about the start of the week.

“We call it ‘Tell the Truth’ Monday. And the message I told the guys was that telling the truth that you had, it’s important. It’s part of the brotherhood of telling the truth, of saying it. It is also important to receive it and know the commitment that comes and goes.

If you’ve watched the Commanders recently, you know they’ve had to face some truths, like missed opportunities and mistakes. But Quinn made it clear: Monday wasn’t about pointing fingers. It was about taking it on, fixing it and moving it forward.

“But for today it was about the corrections and adjustments we had to make from the previous game,” Quinn said.

Quinn’s approach isn’t just about coaches barking orders; It’s a two-way street. He shared the story of a former player talking about a game design that didn’t make sense from his perspective.

“I had told the team a story about a player that we could do this check and check. And he said, ‘Hey Coach, I think it’s hard with the lens on the helmet .’ And that’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten because it’s always about what the player needs,” Quinn said.

That kind of transparency and trust is what Quinn says separates a good team from a great team.

And Washington must be great. The Cowboys may be 3-7, but with Dak Prescott out for the season, Dallas will be looking for any reason to exploit the cracks in their game – and even a small mistake could further threaten the Commanders’ chances in playoffs.

“It’s not about blame; it’s about aligning our football perfectly,” Quinn said.

The Commanders will need this alignment and more on Sunday. Rivalry games bring out the best and worst in teams. For Quinn, the hope is that “Tell the Truth Monday” becomes the launching pad for a focused and motivated team.

So, as Washington prepares to face a Dallas team that has been a thorn in its side for years, they take a hard look in the mirror. Because if they want to walk out of Northwest Stadium with a victory, they’ll need more than X’s and O’s: they’ll need honesty, accountability and a lot of heart.

And that’s the truth.

Stay with CommanderGameday and the Locked Commanders podcast for more FREE Washington Commanders coverage throughout the 2024 season.

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