Tag: NFC East Division

Washington’s 2021 schedule was NFL’s strongest

Washington’s 2021 schedule was the most difficult in the NFL.

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Ten of the 17 Washington Football Team’s 2021 game opponents will be playing in this season’s NFL playoff tournament.

I had not sat down and tallied the numbers, but driving in my car, listening to “The Al Galdi Podcast” Thursday morning, when Galdi proclaimed this statistic it certainly grabbed my attention.

Washington faced Dallas and Philadelphia twice each, and also the Chargers, Bills, Chiefs, Packers, Bucs, and Raiders. Washington in those 10 games, unfortunately only came out on top twice, defeating the Bucs and Raiders.

Galdi continued, “The Washington Football Team in the 2021 regular season played the hardest schedule in the NFL per Football Outsiders DVOA metric.” By contrast, Galdi then revealed that per the same metric, Washington in the 2020 regular season played the fifth easiest schedule.

Galdi then asked his listeners, “So you tell me, which season is more impressive? Going 7-9 against the fifth easiest schedule in the NFL, and yes winning the NFC East which was atrocious. Or, going 7-10 against the hardest schedule?”

“I know which season felt better. Obviously, the 2020 season felt better. But put aside your feelings, and get out of your feelings. Just look at this thing objectively. Which season is better? The answer is the 2021 season. And yes, neither season is some great season. And yes, there were things about the 2021 season that were off-putting…”

Galdi was not saying 2021 was a great season; not even saying it was a good season. He was saying, we were all fooled by the 2020 season, because it felt good to win the NFC East, when it was a weak year.

Bill Parcells for a couple of decades has been known for having said, “You are what your record says you are.” The TV football commentators bow their knee to him acting as if Parcells was so profound in that statement.

But ever since I was a college student watching BYU finish 13-0 in the 1984 season, including beating a very average Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl, a thought pressing me is, “Ok, you are undefeated, but whom did you play on your schedule?”

Here is the link to Thursday’s “The Al Galdi Podcast.”

 

 

When they Last Met: Dallas at Washington

Dallas and Washington last met just two weeks ago. Washington certainly hopes for a much better start this time around.

“When They Last Met” is an ongoing series during NFL seasons, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on Washington’s schedule.

Dallas 27, Washington 20 – Week 14, December 12, 2021

In a game that was merely two Sundays ago, yet Washington fans would like to forget altogether, Dallas scored five times in the first half, going up by 24 points on their way to a 27-20 win over Washington.

The Washington offense (both running and passing) was virtually impotent in that first half. Washington permitted the Dallas defense to put them in terrible third-down situations throughout the half.

In fact, Washington faced seven third downs in the first half. Not once was a Washington third down where they needed less than six yards for a first down. https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/2021/12/14/did-you-notice-the-third-downs-washington-football-team-dallas-cowboys/

Washington QB Taylor Heinicke had a screen pass intercepted and returned 12 yards by Randy Gregory, leading to a Dak Prescott to Amari Cooper 7-yard TD. Heinicke then coughed up a fumble in which Dorance Armstrong returned 37 yards for a touchdown, and it was 18-0 before the second quarter began.

Heinicke’s day was his worst thus far, completing only 11 of 25 for a mere 122 yards (4.9 ypa) one touchdown, one interception and one fumble lost for a touchdown.

The Dallas defense was THE dominant factor of the game and interestingly enough Prescott was not impressive either. He completed 22 of 39 passes for 211 yards (5.4 ypa) with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Dallas up 27-8 early in the fourth quarter, seemed to relax when Kyle Allen led Washington on a 73-yard 13 play drive as Jonathan Williams’ 1-yard run made it 27-14.

Prescott then compounded matters when he threw a pass directly to Washington linebacker Cole Holcomb who promptly returned it 31 yards, narrowing the Washington deficit to 27-20.

Unfortunately for Washington, its comeback ended when Allen was sacked on the WFT’s final drive, leading to a questionable fumble.