The Washington Football Team has battled through extreme adversity this season. The list is never ending it seems. The franchise abolished their name weeks before the season started and still haven't picked a replacement. Star running back Darius Guice was arrested before the season started and subsequently released. New head coach Ron Rivera announced a battle with cancer just weeks after being hired and has coached much of the season undergoing chemo treatments. Alex Smith, who was recovering from a gruesome leg injury, was forced to play earlier in the season than expected after injuries to the other quarterbacks. And now finally, this week the team released second year quarterback Dwayne Haskins for conduct detrimental to the team a day after Washington clinched their fourth straight losing season. All that and the Washington Football Team still has a chance to host a playoff game and win the NFC East with a victory over the Eagles on Sunday night. The defense was the reason for the Football Teams success and will need to be the reason again on Sunday. The defensive line needs to get back to their mid-season form and 1st round pick Chase Young needs to make life difficult for rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. Washington will have Alex Smith back under center, which is much needed, considering the offense hasn't scored more than 15 points in back to back games.
The Eagles had a chance last week to ruin the Cowboys playoff chances. After failing to do so, this week they have a chance to ruin Washington's playoff chances. The Eagles defense was thrashed against the Cowboys and will again be without star defensive lineman Fletcher Cox. The Eagles offense played well early last week, but stopped running the ball which led to Jalen Hurts turning the football over. Philadelphia will need a strong performance from the run game to open up Jalen Hurts to push the ball down the field. Hurts cannot hold onto the ball long, as the offensive line will no doubt struggle against the Washington defensive front.
In only the NFL, will the entire country be watching 4 mediocre teams fight it out to lose in the first round of the playoffs. These teams STINK, but man are they fun too watch. I don't think the Washington offense can move the ball and I've seen the defense struggle too much in recent weeks to contain Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense. I think the Eagles are just going to have more scoring opportunities to capitalize on and therefore win the game easily. The only chance Washington has is to force the young quarterback into fumbling the football on the pass rush, I just don't think they can do it. Eagles win 27-13.
