Frankie Luvu tried to play it cool when he was asked about the big banner of him hanging on the side of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. He shrugged with a small smile and said he thought he saw it, but Bobby Wagner didn't let that slide.

"Yeah, you saw it," Wagner said. "You're trying to act like you didn't see it. He took a picture right in front of it."

"I texted the group chat of me and all the boys on the islands like, 'Hey, we made it,'" Luvu said.

There's a lot in Madrid, Spain, for Luvu and the Commanders to be excited about besides banners. They're set to make history this weekend when they kick off their Week 11 matchup against the Miami Dolphins -- the first NFL game ever played in the country. For Luvu and several other players, it will be their first time playing a game outside of the country, and they wanted to make sure they captured the significance of that moment throughout the week.

But there's a balancing act that comes with the desire to experience all that Madrid has to offer. For them, this is a business trip, and that must be their top priority.

"At the end of the day, we're here for a job, and we're here to win," Luvu said. "I was happy when I saw the picture and all, but we're trying to find that win."

The Commanders (3-7) shouldn't have much trouble keeping their minds focused on the reason for their trip to Madrid. They have lost five straight games -- the last four coming with double-digit deficits. Their playoff path has not vanished yet, but it has become significantly narrower in the second half of the season. They will likely need to win out, plus possibly get some extra help, to remain in contention for the postseason.

That path starts with the Dolphins in Madrid, and despite all the changes the Commanders have experienced over the past week with the language barrier, six-hour time difference compared to the United States and practice at Real Madrid's facility, the team has tried to keep things as close to normal as possible.

"I wouldn't say it's different, but in the evenings, the watching the films together, doing all of our film together where we're maybe not even splitting up as much as groups," head coach Dan Quinn said. "So, sometimes the tightest, smallest meeting rooms are the best because everybody's hearing the same word the same way."

The Commanders' veteran players have helped in that regard. The Commanders have multiple players who have already played in a game overseas and can help the younger players adjust to the new scenery. That list includes quarterback Marcus Mariota, who played in the Tennessee Titans' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in London in 2018.

The key, Mariota said, is finding the "happy medium" between focusing on the task at hand while also appreciating the privilege of playing an international game.

"You want to be able to, one, really enjoy the moment, enjoy being in Madrid, have opportunities to experience this beautiful city. Also, we are here on business, and we have a job at hand," Mariota said. "So, we understand that there's opportunities to take some time away and to experience what Madrid has to offer, but also, we have guys that understand like, 'Hey, there's times to hunker down and let's get things rolling and making sure that we're ready to roll.'"

At the same time, the Commanders are aware of how rare it is to play a game overseas. Sam Cosmi has tried to soak in every moment, from the cooler moments, such as practicing at Real Madrid's facility, to the not-so-great experiences like adjusting to the time change.

"I think it's pretty cool to be here," Cosmi said. "Not a lot of people get to do this. Soccer is a worldwide phenomenon, so it's really cool to be a part of this and experience this."

Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt said it's "unreal" to be in Madrid practicing for a game.

"It doesn't get better than this," Croskey-Merritt said. "I truly mean that. I'm just blessed to be able to do what I love with great people."

For Quinn, the best moments are the moments in between practice and meetings. Since the team's hotel was near the stadium, Quinn said "you feel the energy of this great city and the game."

But those moments pass quickly, and it's back to business.

"As any ball player would say, routine is very important. And so, the more quickly you can adapt to that, you can get into that routine, I think anywhere. But you do have to have the discipline to go through it in each space."