WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
2020 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Ron Rivera
Key Additions - Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), Ereck Flowers (LB), Adam Humphries (WR), Curtis Samuel (WR), Darryl Roberts (DB), David Mayo (LB), DeAndre Carter (WR), William Jackson III (DB), Tyler Larsen (OL)
OFFENSE - The Washington Football Team will likely go with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting quarterback this season. Fitzpatrick played for Miami last season and had 2,091 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Taylor Heinicke will play the backup role.
Antonio Gibson (795 rushing yards, 4.7 ypc average and eleven touchdowns), J.D. McKissic (365, 4.3 ypc and one TD along with 80 receptions for 589 yards and two TD) and Peyton Barber (258, 2.7 ypc and four TD) are the running backs. The wide receivers include Terry McLaurin, who led the team with 87 receptions for 1,118 yards and four touchdowns last year. Curtis Samuel (77, 851, three TD with Carolina), Adam Humphries (23, 228, two TD with Tennessee), DeAndre Carter and rookie Dyami Brown (North Carolina) round out the receiving corps. Tight End Logan Thomas caught 72 passes for 670 yards and six scores.
Washington scored an average of 20.9 points per game last season while averaging 317 yards per game (30th in NFL). WFT rushed for 101 yards per game (26th) and passed for 216 YPG, which ranked 25th in the league.
DEFENSE - The front four of Chase Young (7 1/2 QB sacks), Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat (nine sacks) are in place along with linebackers Cole Holcomb, John Bostic (team high 118 tackles) and either rookie Jarmin Davis (Kentucky) or Khaleke Hudson.
In the secondary is William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller (four interceptions) at the corners while Landon Collins and Karmen Curl (three picks) play the safety spots. Others in the mix are Jimmy Moreland, Deshazor Everett, Jeremy Reaves and Troy Apke. Washington intercepted 16 passes last season and had 47 quarterback sacks while also ranking second in the NFL in total defense, allowing 305 yards per game. The run defense placed 13th overall, giving up 113 YPG and the pass defense allowed just 192 yards per game, which was second best in the NFL.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - After surprising a lot of people by making the playoffs last year, the Washington Football Team and first year Head Coach Ron Rivera raised the bar for expectations this season.
Avoiding a poor start again this season would go a long way to ensure more success this time around and a second straight playoff appearance. WFT went 5-2 down the stretch in 2020 with the defense leading the way. There is reason to believe that if the defense stays healthy, more of the same positive results will follow. The offense needs to pick it up and thus Ryan Fitzpatrick (known as "Fitz Magic") was brought in after his performances with the Miami Dolphins last year. Washington scored more than 30 points in a game only once last season and in today's NFL, that isn't going to get it done, even if a team has a stellar defense.
It will be interesting to see if the team can have the same overall success now that teams around the league have seen what they can do. They will not be taken so lightly this year and that could mean the difference between another first place finish in the NFC East or perhaps going back to third or fourth place in the division race. What WFT does down the stretch will determine their fate as they play five consecutive divisional games to wind up the season. The pick here is an 8-9 finish this season, which could be enough for a second place finish.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week 2 - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week 3 - at Buffalo
Week 4 - at Atlanta
Week 5 - vs. New Orleans
Week 6 - vs. Kansas City
Week 7 - at Green Bay
Week 8 - at Denver
Week 9 - BYE
Week 10 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 11 - at Carolina
Week 12 - vs. Seattle
Week 13 - at Las Vegas
Week 14 - vs. Dallas
Week 15 - at Philadelphia
Week 16 - at Dallas
Week 17 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 18 - at N.Y. Giants
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