The hype is increasing. The excitement is growing. The Washington Commanders' game at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6 is on everyone's lips. It may be early days, but the mouth-watering matchup will have the NFL's almost undivided attention.

Many see this as a tough test for the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Ravens are a perennial contender with Pro Bowl and All-Pro talent everywhere you look. It's the kind of high-stakes, pressure cooker environment this franchise hasn't seen often in the last decade. How they handle the harsh spotlight will be crucial to their chances.

It is difficult to remain at a balanced level. The Commanders are 4-1 and further ahead than ever predicted. At the same time, there is neither winning nor losing at this stage of the season. Staying focused and not overdoing yourself can be the catalyst for even better days.

Head coach Dan Quinn provides peace of mind amid continued admiration. He is the experienced leader that those in power believed could lead this ambitious project. So far it looks like a great setup. He will also be all too aware of how quickly things can change when complacency creeps in.

Quinn was quick to downplay the hype surrounding the Week 6 contest at M&T Bank Stadium. The former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator acknowledged that his team would face an exceptional opponent. However, he was also quick to point out that those in attendance do not expect this to have a greater impact on their 2024 prospects than any other competition.

“We don’t talk in those terms. Hey, it's no secret, Baltimore is a really good football team, but we don't use it as a measure of where we are. Like every time we go, we are here to get started and give it a try. So it doesn't affect a scale or anything like that. We know how good they are and we are ready to fight too.

– Dan Quinn via Commanders.com

Once again, this is the right approach. It gets more attention than most games. But at the end of the day it's just a game.

The Commanders will still have a winning record if they don't beat the Ravens. Their ambitions will not change if they are defeated by a team that had much bigger ambitions before the season. Quinn always preaches maximum effort, no matter who is on the other side of the field. So far it has had the desired effect. And even if it doesn't always work, it's not because you don't try.

Washington's culture change under Quinn's leadership has been outstanding. The professionalism and purpose of the building is night and day different from previous regimes. That is the recipe for success. Whether it's a top contender like the Ravens or a bottom contender like the Carolina Panthers in Week 7, the mentality remains the same.

The commanders can use this as a basic building block. Quinn's calm manner entering this heavyweight fight is a testament to that. Long may it continue like this.

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