Category: Latest Washington News

‘House Money;’ Whatever Washington does from here is just gravy

Washington wasn’t expected to be any good in 2020, so a trip to the playoffs has them playing with house money with no pressure weighing them down.

The Washington Football Team is going to the 2020 NFL Playoffs.

If someone told you that a couple of months ago when they had fallen to 2-7 on the season, you would have laughed them out of the building, but with a veteran QB like Alex Smith taking the starting job and going 5-1 with the team, Ron Rivera’s squad capped off a nice late-season run and won the NFC East championship on Sunday night.

As Rivera said recently, everything they do now is just icing on the cake, as they are playing with house money going forward.

Nobody expected them to be here. Nobody expected their defense to be this good this soon. The offense needs a lot of work, but with a reliable quarterback under center, all things are going to look a lot better, I can tell you that much.

So would they like to win next Saturday against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Absolutely. Will it be a disappointment if they lose? Somewhat, yes. But it definitely is not a failure if you lose in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Simply because nobody expected them to get to the playoffs. They’re there now, and they’re playing with somebody else’s money at the black jack table. Everything from here is just a bonus to what will already go down as a successful season, no matter the end result.

NFL announces date and time of Washington-Tampa Bay playoff game

Washington will have a quick turnaround this week, facing off against Tampa Bay on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET in the wild-card round.

The Washington Football Team will have a quick turnaround before their playoff game this week. After beating the Philadelphia Eagles to lock up a postseason berth, Washington will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. It is the first time since 2015 that Washington has reached the postseason.

The NFL announced Washington vs. Tampa Bay will be played at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday night, with the game being broadcast by NBC. It’s the third game of wild-card weekend, following Colts-Bills on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, and Rams-Seahawks at 4:40 p.m. ET.

Here’s the full wild-card schedule, as announced by the Rams on Sunday night.

NFC Playoff picture: Washington to face Buccaneers on wild-card weekend

For the first time since 2015, Washington will be making an appearance in the NFL playoffs, where they will face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the first time since 2015, the Washington Football Team will be going to the postseason. Soak it in, Washington fans, success has finally returned to the franchise.

It may not have been the prettiest season or the prettiest end to a game, but Ron Rivera and his squad got the job done when it counted, and as a result, they will be facing Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round next weekend. As winners of the NFC East, Washington holds the No. 4 seed in the NFC, and they will be playing host in their playoff game as a result.

Despite being considered one of the worst teams remaining, with a 7-9 record, Washington has a defense that ranks among the best in the league, and an offense that isn’t half bad when they have their best players on the field, like QB Alex Smith, WR Terry McLaurin, and RB Antonio Gibson.

The Bucs will undoubtedly be favorites in this matchup, but the Washington defense does best when faced with an immobile quarterback who struggles to evade pressure. That has Brady written all over it. If the offense plays up to the billing, we could have a really fun playoff game on our hands.

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WATCH: Logan Thomas makes incredible leaping TD catch before halftime

Logan Thomas came down with an incredible highlight-reel catch over an Eagles defender to give Washington the lead before the half.

Logan ‘You got Moss’d!’ Thomas.

That’s what his nickname should be going forward after what he did to the Philadelphia Eagles defender late in the first half to give Washington the lead once again before the break.

Trailing by four with very little working on offense, TE Logan Thomas skied for a ball in the endzone and grabbed it out of a defender’s hands, bringing it down for the score. In a season where Thomas has been incredible, this might have been the best play of his career to date, and it came at a huge time for Washington as they fight to keep their seasons alive.

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For first time all season, Washington scores on opening drive of the game

On the 16th and final game of the 2020 season, Washington finally put points on the board with their opening drive of the game.

It only took them 16 tries, but the Washington Football Team finally found a way to put points on the board with their opening drive of the game, this time taking a 7-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles.

A surgical drive was led by QB Alex Smith, when went 7-for-8 for 61 yards and a TD in his first game back since Week 14. The touchdown came on 15th play of the drive, which started at their own 9-yard line, and it was caught by WR Terry McLaurin, who is also back on the field for the first time since Week 15 after dealing with an ankle injury.

With the catch, McLaurin passed 2,000 yards receiving in his career with Washington.

There is still a ton of game left to be played, but if the first 10 minutes were any indication of what is yet to come, it could be a fun night full of celebration in Washington.

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What a win or loss means for the Washington Football Team on Sunday night

Playoffs or season over. No. 19 or No. 10. Division title or runner up. Here’s a look at everything on the line for Washington on Sunday.

With the most important game of the season for the Washington Football Team kicking off on Sunday night, it seems like a good time to look into exactly what will happen should they beat the Philadelphia Eagles or lose.

Now that 255 games of the 2020 NFL season have been played, there are only a few things to be wrapped up in the 256th contest. When the final whistle blows on Washington and the Eagles, we will have everything we need to know, including a finalized playoff picture, and a good part of the 2021 NFL draft order set in stone.

Let’s take a look at the ramifications, with some help from Michael Phillips.

If Washington is to win on Sunday night, they will clinch their first playoff berth since 2015, and secure the NFC East division championship, giving them a tougher schedule next season. It will also guarantee that they can draft no higher than No. 19 in the 2021 NFL Draft.

With a loss, the season will end, and they will pick No. 10. Subsequently, the New York Giants will represent the NFC East in the playoffs.

Easy to say that a win seems much more fun for everyone. Let’s keep this thing rolling.

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Washington Inactives: Alex Smith, Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson all good to go vs. Eagles

Washington will have their full array of offensive weapons on Sunday night against the Eagles in a game that could put them in the playoffs.

Though there was some doubt in the week leading up to this game, the Washington Football Team will have their full array of offensive weapons on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, where a win will push them into the 2020 postseason in the No. 4 seed.

For the first time in several weeks, Alex Smith will be starting at QB, and WR Terry McLaurin will be seeing his first action since Week 15 as well. RB Antonio Gibson played last week against the Carolina Panthers, but he was held out of practice all week to give his turf toe injury a chance to recover a bit.

Also interesting to note that both WR Antonio Gandy-Golden and WR Robert Foster are incative, which might mean that Washington feels confident riding with McLaurin.

On the opposite spectrum, the Eagles are without a number of their best players, which is not a surprise seeing as they have nothing to play for since they were eliminated from the playoffs last week.

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LOOK: Alex Smith’s old leg-brace is now shaped like the Lombardi Trophy

Elizabeth Smith posted a photo of Alex’s old leg brace, which has now been shaped like the Lombardi Trophy.

There was a cool post that came from Elizabeth Smith, Washington quarterback Alex Smith’s wife ahead of the regular-finale on Sunday afternoon.

Smith posted a photo of Smith’s old external fixator brace that was used to stabilize his leg after the 17 surgeries following his gruesome injury. The brace has now been fashioned to look like the Lombardi Trophy, which is given to the NFL team to win the Super Bowl.

In the post, Smith wrote the following:

Waiting for this game and I’m a nervous wreck. I look up at our bookshelves as a reminder of where we have been and the hard work to get to this moment. No matter the outcome, Alex has already won. He has beat the largest challenge life has thrown our way. I am incredibly proud and will be cheering loud. Let’s go Washington!

Alex Smith will return to the field for the first time in several weeks on Sunday night with a chance to send Washington to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 with a win.

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Report: Terry McLaurin to try and play with high-ankle sprain vs. Eagles

Terry McLaurin is listed as questionable with a high-ankle sprain, but is reportedly going to try and play on Sunday vs. the Eagles.

Washington star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is listed as questionable on the injury report for the Week 17 win-or-go-home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but a report from The Washington Post‘s Nicki Jhabvala says that the second-year player is going to attempt to play.

McLaurin missed last week’s game with the ankle sprain, and he has been hobbled by it for several weeks now but continues to gut through it. The report from Jhabvala shows that McLaurin knows how important this game is, and is going to do what he can to help his team reach its first postseason since 2015.

While McLaurin may be limited, his presence on the field will have a significant impact on the offense. If opposing defenses are forced to at least give some attention to him, it will help open up other receivers like Logan Thomas, Cam Sims, and Robert Foster. With a threat like No. 17 on the field, all other players have more space to work.

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Washington signs C Chase Roullier to 4-year, $40.5 million contract extension; $19 million guaranteed

Washington has locked down center Chase Roullier for the foreseeable future with a four-year contract extension that gets one of the staples of the offensive line paid.

The Washington Football Team has made it’s first long-term contract extension of the season, inking center Chase Roullier to a four-year contract extension that will keep him in Washington for the foreseeable future.

Roullier has been one of the staples of Washington’s offensive line since being drafted in the 6th round in 2017. Washington has found some real success on their offensive line this season, and Roullier’s ability and availability has been a big part of that.

There was some question as to where he stood with the team earlier this year after the draft selection of C Keith Ismael in the 2020 NFL Draft. Many thought that Ismael would compete for the starting C position and push Roullier out in a contract year, but Roullier has played very well and earned his place on Washington’s offensive line.

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