Ron Rivera Reveals How Commanders Are Preparing For Jonathan Gannon's Cardinals

The Washington Commanders will take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, when Jonathan Gannon will make his head coaching debut.

The Washington Commanders are seven-point home favorites for their Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. 

Whether Sam Howell cements himself as the team's long-term quarterback in 2023 or Washington's never-ending search for the most important position in sports continues for another year, this is a game the Commanders should win. The Cardinals are widely expected to be the worst team in the NFL this year. 

With that said, teams with a new coach looking to make a positive first impression are always a bit of a wild card to draw in Week 1. Commanders coach Ron Rivera explained how Washington is preparing for the Jonathan Gannon-led Cardinals. 

“Well, you prepare for what you see through training camp, their preseason games and then you prepare for where they're from, you know, knowing what they are, knowing who they are defensively from having been in Philadelphia, knowing where their coordinator is on the offensive side," Rivera said. 

Jonathan Gannon will make his coaching debut in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders. (USA Today)

Gannon, of course, was the defensive coordinator for the Eagles the past two seasons. That doesn't mean the Cardinals won't take some elements of what worked for Nick Sirianni, Shane Steichen and the offensive coaching staff, but that makes it more difficult for Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to attempt to game plan. Drew Petzing is an offensive coordinator for the first time, and the Cardinals haven't announced whether Josh Dobbs or Clayton Tune will be their starting quarterback to open the season. 

All the uncertainty -- even if whatever product the Cardinals put on the field this season isn't very good -- has to make it more difficult for the Commanders coaching staff, right? 

"You'll prepare for what he was last with, but you'll also keep in mind a little bit of that flavor from where the head coach [Gannon] is from," Rivera said. "You know, he is from Philadelphia, we know there's an RPO program that they run and we know there's certain type of running game they use, certain type of passing game they use, their play action game. 

"So, we take a lot of that into account in fact that Jack and I had that conversation today. And so, Jack's on top of it. I know their staff is on top of it. So, I think we'll be ready.”

As Rivera enters a crucial year in 2023, it's important for the Commanders to get off to a strong start against the Cardinals. After that, more difficult matchups with the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles are looming.