And last but not least on our previews of the NFC East is the no name team itself, the Washington Football Team.
Even by their standards, Ron Rivera’s first year with the team was full of chaos, from his cancer diagnosis to the team’s name controversy to Alex Smith’s return and exit that included a five-game losing streak early and a four-game winning streak, that also features four different quarterbacks: Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Smith, and Taylor Heinicke.
But the trend was clear: They went from 3-13 to 7-9 in and an unexpected NFC East title.
Washington spent a full season restructuring and remodeling the team, and they are expecting bigger things in 2021. While the quarterback situation is yet to be solved, they made a solid signing in Ryan Fitzpatrick as a placeholder, while a smart use of their cap space allowed them to not only sign him but also Curtis Samuel to add to their receiving core and William Jackson III to bring stability to their secondary.
The Draft class, led by versatile LB Jamin Davis, fills in the team’s biggest needs. The defense, led by Chase Young, should be among the toughest in the league.
The QB carousel continues on to this season. Even since Smith’s gruesome leg injury in 2018, the position was manned by Colt McCoy, Josh Johnson, Mark Sanchez, Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Smith (again), Heinicke and Allen.
Now, Fitzpatrick continues that trend until a permanent starter is found. The hope is that he can give an impression of a gunslinger who helped the Dolphins go from 5-11 in 2019 to 10-6 in 2020.
Terry McLaurin broke out as a legitimate deep threat and the team’s no. 1 receiver. However, there could potentially be three different no. 1 receivers, with the additions of Samuel via free agency and Dynami Brown via the Draft. Samuel is a versatile wide receiver who can play on the outside, inside, or out of the backfield, and Rivera and OC Scott Turner will make good use of that shiftiness. Brown had 20 yards per catch in his last two seasons at North Carolina.
They also added Adam Humphries largely on the recommendation of Fitzpatrick, who was impressed by Humphries when they played in Tampa. Humphries, however, missed most of the 2020 season with concussions and other injuries. If he stays healthy, he could be the man in the slot, with McLaurin and Samuel lined up to the outside.
Fitzpatrick coulud also make use of running backs Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic and tight end Logan Thomas, with the trio combining for 188 receptions in 2020.
Washington franchise tagged Brandon Scherff for the second straight season, costing them $18M and some of their leverage on a long-term deal; it’s likely he’ll leave after this season. Chase Roullier should stick around a little longer after a four-year extension, but Morgan Moses was released, so the right tackle job will be up for grabs.
On the left side, Washington made a trade to bring back Ereck Flowers on a left guard spot that saw three different starters and also served as insurance potential against the potential departure of Scherff after this season. The left tackle spot has always had question marks, but Washington addressed it by bringing in Charles Leno Jr.
Jack Del Rio continues to oversee this defense and saw it transform into a top 5 unit fueled by a defensive line that remains the backbone of the unit.
It’s all by design, as they spent first round picks on the defensive line each season from 2017 to 2020, who appears to be every bit of the generational talent that the team wanted them to be. Young pairs excellently with Montez Sweat as the edge rushers, with Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne on the inside.
The best part? The entire quartet is playing on their rookie contracts, with Allen being the only one unsigned beyond 2021.
Their weak spot in 2020 was at linebacker, which was susceptible to exploitation by opposing running backs and tight ends in the passing game, which is surprising given that Rivera and Del Rio were both NFL standouts at that position when they were playing. They addressed that need by drafting Davis, whose athleticism and versatility would be useful to the team. Look for him to start on the weakside, opposite Cole Holcomb, with Jon Bostic in the middle.
On the secondary, they are settled on that, with William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller being the starters and Jimmy Moreland seeing action at the slot. Jackson is an elite cover man, with speed, size, and skills that coaches want at the position.
At safety, there are intriguing questions, especially with Landon Collins, who had a season-ending Achilles tear last October. Kamren Curl’s emergence has complicated the picture. If Collins is healthy, Curl could be moved to free safety.
Washington treated the 2021 Draft like a team that could possibly have a chance at going a long way this season—using their picks strategically to fill up the weak spots on the roster rather than finding a permanent solution at quarterback.
Given the strength of their defense and the NFC East still being the weakest division in the NFL, there should be reason for optimism in the nation’s capital.
At the very least, there has been more talent, depth, and versatility on this team since the days of Joe Theismann.
Schedule
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, September 12, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Ron Rivera era started off with Washington scoring 27 unanswered points after being down by 17 against the Eagles last season. This year will be no different. The common theme here? Protecting the home field. Washington’s elite defense will be a tough test for Justin Herbert, and Fitzpatrick has been known to start off hot before he cools down, as evidenced by his three consecutive games of at least 400 passing yards in 2018. The defense is looking to take advantage of a young offensive line. Plus, the Chargers had a 3-5 record on the road last season. The crowd in the nation’s capital is going to be loud as well. All this leads to Washington’s “upset” win.
Week 1 score: Washington 31, Chargers 23
Week 2: vs. New York Giants (TNF)
Thursday, September 16, 8:20 PM on NFLN
Washington has not won against the Giants in the last five games, but the Giants won both games last season by a combined four points. The teams seem to be evenly matched, but this opportunity for Washington to break the losing streak against the Giants makes it even better because the Giants won just seven of their past 32 road games dating back to the 2017 season, and that is the deciding factor here.
Week 2 score: Washington 23, Giants 16
Week 3: @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday, September 26, 1:00 PM on FOX
Josh Allen and the Bills could be a good barometer of where Washington is at this season. In fact, their trajectory is something that Rivera, a defensive-minded coach, envisions with his team. The Bills are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and they will carry that momentum that they had in 2020 into 2021. The Bills defense slowed down last season, but don’t expect that to repeat this season. Plus, Washington is about a year away from going into a hostile environment in Buffalo and running away with the win. However, they won’t go down without a fight and force Allen into some errors.
Week 3 score: Bills 17, Washington 13
Week 4: @ Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, October 3, 1:00 PM on FOX
Washington relies on a dynamic rushing attack and a dominant defense in the hope that they repeat as NFC East champions. Everything they did this offseason is building to that. On paper, this isn’t a good matchup for Matt Ryan and co., but this can smell like a trap game for Washington. The Falcons are obviously a rebuilding team, but first-year HC Arthur Smith should be able to put up points with Matty Ice, Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts. The Falcons can’t toy around with leads, but they can surprise people.
Week 4 score: Falcons 34, Washington 27
Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, October 10, 1:00 PM on FOX
The Saints will be a VERY different team now that Jameis Winston is under center for them. Expect them to rely on Alvin Kamara a little more, along with a defense that has holes on the team. While Jameis had ups and down in his career, Washington avenges their Week 4 loss with a win. In the end, Rivera’s defense is likely to finish among the top 10 in stopping the run this season.
Week 5 score: Washington 27, Saints 20
Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 PM on CBS
Patrick Mahomes vs. an exciting Washington defense? This should be interesting. Under normal circumstances, I usually would not want to pick against Mahomes and co., but Washington may have other plans. Yes, I’m going for the upset here. Washington has the talent on all three levels of the defense to pull off one of the biggest statements of the 2021 season. Primarily, it is with their ability to go sideline-to-sideline, which should help against the likes of Tyreek Hill. Playing ball control offense against a Chiefs defense that almost gave up 2,000 rushing yards last season will also help to this case.
Week 6 score: Washington 23, Chiefs 20
Week 7: @ Green Bay Packers
Sunday, October 24, 1:00 PM on FOX
The same level of confidence I have for the upset over the Chiefs cannot be stated in Week 7 when the Football Team travels to the Frozen Tundra. The issue is that the Packers have the homefield advantage at Lambeau along with Washington’s slightly above-average offense, who will face a sturdy Packers defense. Plus, Aaron Rodgers is too talented and too experienced to have his team lose to a team that hasn’t got a permanent solution at quarterback yet.
Week 7 score: Packers 24, Washington 17
Week 8: @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, October 31, 4:25 PM on FOX
Whether it’s going to be Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock under center for the Broncos, this is bound to be a low-scoring matchup in the Mile High City. When you take into account that both teams have top 10 defenses, with Washington’s being top 3, this is emphasized further. However, I’m going with the Broncos here, as they are the home team and will do just enough to get the victory.
Week 8 Score: Broncos 17, Washington 14
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaners
Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM on FOX
A rematch of last season’s NFC Wild Card game, Washington surprised the world when they played it closed against Tom Brady and co. despite losing 31-23, with Taylor Heinicke as the starting QB. However, I’m not going to bet against the reigning Super Bowl champs here. While Fitzpatrick is an upgrade, I just don’t see Washington pulling off an upset despite it being a close game.
Week 10 score: Buccaneers 34, Washington 24
Week 11: @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, November 21, 1:00 PM on FOX
Ron Rivera against his former team. This should make for a good grudge match. Washington had a chance to secure the NFC East in Week 16, but Dwayne Haskins’ struggles led to a loss. In last year’s match, Curtis Samuel led both teams in rushing and receiving, but now he is in Washington, reunited with Rivera. However, the Panthers seemingly match up well against Washington’s elite defensive talent. Christian McCaffrey’s ability to get out on the boundary paired with the ascension of DJ Moore could have the Panthers putting up a competitive effort. I can see an upset here.
Week 11 score: Panthers 27, Washington 23
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks (MNF)
Monday, November 29, 8:15 PM on ESPN
The week before losing to the Panthers in Week 16 last year, they lost an ugly matchup to the Seahawks, 20-15. It was another game that Haskins struggled, but the defense kept Washington in the game. Both teams will be looking to get in the playoff picture here, but Washington gets the edge here as they will be able to score points against a Seahawks defense that lacks talent outside of Jamal Adams. The question is if the defense will be able to contain DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. In what is a high-scoring affair for Washington, they end up avenging their loss last season, which is huge for them, given that this is a Monday Night Football contest.
Week 12 score: Washington 37, Seahawks 34
Week 13: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, December 5, 4:05 PM on FOX
Playing in Vegas will be tough this season. Not only is it on the opposite side of the country, but it could be one of the best environments in the NFL. There is every reason to believe that Allegiant Stadium will be packed with Raiders fans after fans were not permitted to attend games during the Raiders’ 2020 season. It’s going to be a huge difference here, especially against evenly matched teams. The Raiders were a weird team in 2020, and expect them to be unpredictable again in 2021. They could lose to weaker teams by at least 30 points but at the same time, be the only team in the league that can take down Patrick Mahomes and co. You just never know with this team, but I’ll give the nod to them here in a potential trap game against Washington.
Week 13 score: Raiders 35, Washington 30
Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, December 12, 1:00 PM on FOX
Washington was a disastrous 3-5 at home last season. It didn’t impact them as the NFC East is a joke. This must change for Rivera and co. However, the Cowboys are 10-11 in the last 21 games where Dak Prescott started. Most of the blame, however, goes to the defense. It should also be noted that Washington swept them last season, but a season split could be more likely this season. This game is played at home, and Washington has the talent in the trenches to pull off with a win against a Cowboys team that has struggled in that regard recently. Expect a win by one score.
Week 14 score: Washington 20, Cowboys 17
Week 15: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Either Saturday, December 18, or Sunday, December 19, time and network TBD
It’s weird that Washington doesn’t get the Cowboys or Eagles until very late in the season, but even weirder that they have a four-week stretch where they play only two teams. However, the late stretch could decide who will win the NFC East. The Eagles, however, do not match up well with Washington despite Jalen Hurts being more mobile than Carson Wentz. A defensive line led by Chase Young and Montez Sweat will have him running for the hills. Washington’s running back group should have a field day against an Eagles defense with question marks.
Week 15 score: Washington 20, Eagles 6
Week 16: @ Dallas Cowboys (SNF)
Sunday, December 26, 8:20 PM on NBC
Last season, Washington outscored the Cowboys by a combined 66-19 to sweep their division rivals. However, that was because Dak Prescott was out for the season with a gruesome leg injury he suffered in Week 5. So, don’t expect the same Cowboys team from last season to show up this season. Plus, the Cowboys defense entering 2021 is a much-improved defense under DC Dan Quinn. This will lead the Cowboys to winning at home.
Week 16 score: Cowboys 27, Washington 17
Week 17: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM on FOX
If you’re noticing something here, the Eagles are not able to match up with Washington in 2021. First, they have issues on stopping the run. Second, despite the additions of Steven Nelson and Anthony Harris, the Eagles still have question marks on the secondary that could be their biggest Achilles’ heel. Washington is in a position to take advantage of that, leading to a season sweep of the Eagles.
Week 17 score: Washington 23, Eagles 9
Week 18: @ New York Giants
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on FOX
If there is something else to be noticed, homefield advantage will play a major role in the NFC East now that teams are going to welcome fans back at 100% capacity. However, this does not apply to this game as Daniel Jones falls off a cliff and the Giants go searching for a quarterback in the 2022 Draft. It really could go either way, however, Washington escapes with the W, but lose out on a tiebreaker with the Cardinals based on win-loss record vs. common opponents (Washington is 2-3 against the Packers, Seahawks, Cowboys, and Panthers, while the Cardinals are 3-2 against those same teams). However, they still make the playoffs as the 7th seed in the NFC.
Week 18 score: Washington 17, Giants 6
Final Record Projection: 9-8
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries
TE: Logan Thomas
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Wes Schweitzer/Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
Defense
DE: Chase Young (LE), Montez Sweat (RE)
DT: Jonathan Allen (LDT), Da’Ron Payne (RDT)
LB: Jamin Davis (WLB), Jon Bostic (MLB), Cole Holcomb (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl/Bobby McCain (FS)
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