The Washington Commanders are trying a new approach on the defensive side of the ball starting with their Week 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
After firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio following their 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12, the Commanders are having interim defensive backs coach Cristian Garcia handle a larger role in game planning and on game day, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. At 29, Garcia is one of the youngest position coaches in the entire league.
In their first game since firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, Commanders’ HC Ron Rivera is having interim DB coach Cristian Garcia – who at 29 is one of the youngest position coaches in the NFL – handle a larger role in game planning and on gameday. A big opportunity at a…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 3, 2023
Going up against Miami’s potent offensive attack will be a tough test for Garcia and Washington’s defensive unit as a whole. Heading into the matchup, the Dolphins lead the NFL in total yards accumulated, yards per game and passing yards per game. They’re also second in the league in points per game and total points scored behind the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dolphins enter the game against Washington riding a two-game winning streak and sitting on top of the AFC East with an 8-3 record. They appear to be a team potentially poised to make a deep playoff run.
Washington, on the other hand, has lost three straight games and sits at the bottom of the NFC East with a record of 4-8. The Commanders look to be headed for a third straight year of finishing outside of the playoff picture in the NFC.
The game between the Dolphins and Commanders will be their first matchup since 2019 when Washington pulled out a 17-16 victory over Miami. In all, the two teams have squared off against each other 13 different times during the regular season, and Miami holds an 8-5 record in those meetings. The organizations have also met in two Super Bowls, winning one each.
In addition to the contest with Washington, Miami has five other games remaining on its schedule, including a very tough trio of games to close out the regular season. The Dolphins will host the Tennessee Titans in Week 14 and then the New York Jets in Week 15. Both of those teams are below .500 on the season.
After that, the Dolphins will have three straight games against possible playoff teams in the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. That final stretch of the season will be a tough test for the Dolphins, and it should help them prepare for postseason play.
