1.) Sean McDermott vs. Ron Rivera
The two head coaches for both teams square off for the third time against each other. Sean McDermott was the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers when Ron Rivera was the head coach. The two went to the Super Bowl in 2016 with the Panthers behind a prime Cam Newton and ferocious defense led by Luke Kuechly. After the 2016 season, McDermott was hired by the Bills in January of 2017 and has built a winning culture that Buffalo lacked for 17 seasons.
In the 2017 season, the Bills faced the Panthers which was the first meeting between McDermott and Rivera. In a low-scoring game in which only kickers Stephen Hauschka and Graham Gano scored, Rivera defeated McDermott and the Bills 9-3. Fast forward to 2021, McDermott and the Bills hosted Rivera and would defeat Washington 43-21.
As the two prepare to face each other for a third time in Washington, the winner will take a lead in their series against each other. Even though Rivera has the home field advantage, this reported tropical storm could even out the battlefield.