On Sunday, Taylor Heinicke had the kind of all-around, heart-stopping performance many have come to expect. There were some rougher moments early in the game as the quarterback was settling in, but ultimately the quarterback rose to the occasion when his team needed him most.  

"You see him as the game progresses and he's more and more comfortable," said head coach Ron Rivera. "He's getting the ball out. He's getting the ball where he needs to throw it to whichever side to the leverage sides."  

In the fourth quarter, Heinicke was able to play to his strength and influence the game more effectively, as the pieces of Washington's offense came together. One of those important components was the Commanders' offensive line, which has learned what it needs to focus on with Heinicke under center.    

"They obviously have been able to understand that you have to continue to block," Rivera said. "You have to continue to work on your guy, because with Taylor, he can keep the plays alive because of his tremendous mobility. More so than anything, he's got this knack to be able to duck under and stuff like that where a taller quarterback struggles a little bit with that."   

The power of the quarterback's mobility was on full display in the fourth quarter against the Colts. The offensive line's protection of Heinicke allowed him to burst outside the pocket and squeeze out extra time to find his receivers, most notably Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin, in high-pressure moments.   

Because of his commitment to improving his game along the help of his teammates, Heinicke will be wearing a new pair of blue and white Jordans this week.

Here's a morning roundup of what the local and national media have to say about the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. All reports, rumors and conjecture are a reflection of the media conversation and are not endorsed or confirmed by the Washington Commanders.

The reports and deals expressed in this article have not been confirmed by Washington, nor do they reflect any insider information from anyone in the front office.

• The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala writes about Chase Young's imminent return.
• The Washington Post's Sam Fortier and Nicki Jhabvala go behind the scenes on Terry McLaurin's return home.
• The Washington Post's Sam Fortier breaks down the Commanders' defensive performance.
• The Washington Times' Matthew Paras writes that Taylor Heinicke and Terry McLaurin leading Washington to victory.
• NBC Sports Washington's Ethan Cadeaux writes about another wild ride on the Taylor Heinicke roller coaster.
• NBC Sports Washington's Peter Hailey gives his take on Terry McLaurin's catch against the Colts.
• NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay gives his stock report after Washington's third win.
• The Athletic's Ben Standig looks at how Terry McLaurin lifted Washington past the Colts.

Check Out What's On Commanders.com:

• McLaurin's catch -- and his reaction -- are why his teammates love him so much
• Instant Analysis | McLaurin delivers clutch play to help Commanders claim 17-16 win
• 5 takeaways from Washington's win over the Colts
• Game balls | 4 standouts from Washington's win over Indianapolis
• Commanders-Colts Stats & Snaps