Ron Rivera Presser: Beating the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving was a lot of fun

Washington Football Team | Head Coach Ron Rivera Press Conference https://t.co/CskYR9ovPt

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera opens his press conference by sending his thoughts and prayers to the family of Sean Taylor. This is the 13th anniversary of Taylor's death.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera opened his presser by offering his condolences to Jim Hanifan's family, and by acknowledging the anniversary of Sean Taylor's death.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 27, 2020

.@RiverboatRonHC opens presser with condolences on the loss of Jim Hanifan and the anniversary of Sean Taylor.

Such a thoughtful guy. #WashingtonFootball

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 27, 2020

Rivera said the team is seeing growth from Antonio Gibson in many places. They saw the potential when they were scouting him at Memphis. He's got skillsets that needed be more developed, and thanks to the work Randy Jordan and the team has done, they're starting to see the growth

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera speaking with the media now, says Antonio Gibson is “starting to show the signs” of being an NFL RB. The rookie is quite good, but I think he can get way better. Sounds like Ron thinks so too.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera shouts out RBs coach Randy Jordan and full-year coaching intern Jennifer King for helping develop Antonio Gibson. He's showed continued growth this season, with by far his best performance coming yesterday.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Rivera: "Thursday on Thanksgiving is about a big stage as it gets. ... We took advantage of it. ... The stage didn't seem to be too big."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 27, 2020

Rivera said he was looking for how Washington would respond to playing on the national stage of Thanksgiving Day football. "The stage didn't seem to be too big." Said next week against Pittsburgh will be a different kind of stage.

— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera on how it felt to dominate the Cowboys on national TV: "It was fun, it really was. That's what you work for to play that way and have a game go that way."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera would like to see Little Giants have a higher rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It sits at just 36% right now. Calls that "unfair"

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) November 27, 2020

Rivera said the "Ah-ha" moments have come at different times for players. One that has fascinated him in Logan Thomas. He continues to get better and better, and it's been cool for him to see that growth.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera: "The guy that has really, truly intrigued me is Logan Thomas." ... Rivera said Thomas made a comment to him earlier -- "Oh that's why we do these things." To Rivera, that signified he was getting it. Rivera said Thomas has grown as a player ever since.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera: The guy that has truly intrigued me is Logan Thomas. All he has done is get better. Kam Curl excites me as he is getting better.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) November 27, 2020

Rivera said the trick plays they have in the playbook are big, and it does help with the morale on the team. Not only do they practice them regularly, but they also prepare for teams running those plays against them. That paid off last night when both Dallas' tricks were stuffed.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Rivera on if they have found an identity: "No, we haven't, we're still learning. We'll figure it out, we have guys that are resilient."

— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera said for the one hour, hour and a half, the team was pretty ruckus in the back. Having a good time reliving the game on the flight home.

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 27, 2020

Rivera said it was fun to beat Dallas and it was really cool to see the guys having a good time. He said they were a little ruckus on the plane as the guys were reliving the game.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera admitted yesterday, "was a lot of fun." Said the real joy came postgame in the locker room and on the flight home. Guys were jacked in the locker room and then kept recapping the game on the plane - until they passed out after a day at the office.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 27, 2020

There were many who doubted Rivera's methodology earlier in the season when Washington only had one win. Now, Washington leads the NFC East with five games left. Rivera doesn't feel vindicated, though. That will only happen when they're in the lead in January.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera says the reason the offensive line has held up so well is because they have the right kind of guys willing to do the extra things asked of them and coaching. Leadership between Moses, Scherff and Roullier is also huge.

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 27, 2020

The offensive line has held up so well because of "outstanding" coaching and guys who are willing to do the "extra things" that are asked of them, according to Ron. Also praises the leadership of Morgan, Brandon and Roullier. Gotta say, that group is impressive right now

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera said what he learned from John Madden is looking back and seeing what he could've done differently. What could've the team done better. Specifically pointed out the Cardinals, Browns, Giants, and Lions games.

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 27, 2020

Washington's four wins have comes in different ways, but now Ron Rivera wants to see his team pull out the really close contests. The past three losses have come by a combined seven points.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera attributes his success as a coach in December to the growth of this teams. He notes these next five are going to be tough

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 27, 2020

Rivera now faces another challenge with Washington: teaching his young team how to handle a winning streak. With a critical five-game stretch coming up, he wants his players to focus on the challenges ahead of them w/ the Steelers, 49ers and Seahawks up yet.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Rivera when asked about teaching players to handle prosperity, talks about maintaining focus etc. Then says something I think has applied here for many years -- or needed to be applied: "It's not about your reputation, it's about your actions."

— John Keim (@john_keim) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera has liked Jeremy Reaves' attitude, effort and preparation since training camp, and a few months later, he has become a part of @WashingtonNFL's secondary. Made a few big plays yesterday.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Rivera: Talked about Eric Reid but felt like S Jeremy Reaves earned a chance to play. He doesn't want to be a hypocrite and not reward guys who have earned a chance.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera is asked about Dwayne Haskins' attitude and possible growth in recent weeks. Interesting answer that shows positive steps and what the coach seeks. pic.twitter.com/hM5zkOMvEF

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera believes that Dwayne Haskins "has really grown" in the past month.

"The young man's a talent. He's got an NFL arm...and he's learning the rest of it."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020

Rivera mentioned Dwayne Haskins helping up Alex Smith. He said the guy is a talent and he's working hard and doing the things they need him to do.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera said quarterback Dwayne Haskins has “really grown in the last month in terms of the things we talked about wanting to see him understand. The young man is a talent and he’s learning the rest of it. I like what he’s doing on the field.” Rivera... https://t.co/tYJGmZCYxl

— John Keim (@john_keim) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera, on why the uncertainty of this season "pisses" him off and how he's handled it: pic.twitter.com/JtniSFOmgf

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 27, 2020

Rivera doesn't like the uncertainty that has been created because of COVID, but at the same time, the disruption to normal life shows how flexible he can be.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 27, 2020

Ron Rivera has been a man of routine his entire life, so he hates the uncertainty and disruption of COVID and everything else he has been forced to deal over the past year. That said, he understands that "the sooner we adapt, the easier it's going to be going forward."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 27, 2020