The receiver who was supposed to be a big part of Washington’s offense has not been, and he’s unlikely to be more than a complementary player the rest of the way. He’s the team’s fourth kicker this season, with the latest change necessitated by Joey Slye’s pulled hamstring, but Johnson has been on Washington’s radar since training camp and could be the one who sticks.Ĭurtis Samuel was targeted just once by Heinicke in the Raiders game, his second back after missing time with a lingering groin injury. Kicker Brian Johnson connected from 48 yards for the go-ahead field goal with 37 seconds left against the Raiders. “We had a couple penalties that we didn’t overcome, and because of that the drive stalled,” Rivera said. Washington was penalized six times for 47 yards at Las Vegas, and it was the timing of flags that hurt the most. It’s nitpicking given how well things are going, but Rivera pointed to offensive penalties as something he’d like to see his team cut down. Washington is allowing 17.5 points a game during this winning streak. The defense is finally living up to lofty preseason expectations after being one of the NFL’s best units in 2020, despite losing Young to a season-ending knee injury. Beating Dallas once, splitting against Philadelphia and taking care of business against the last-place New York Giants could be enough to get Washington at least an NFC wild-card spot. A win is a win.”ĭespite winning four in a row, Washington opened as a 4½-point home underdog against the 8-4, division-leading Cowboys on FanDuel Sportsbook. Washington’s past three victories have come by a combined 10 points.Īsked if his team could win a game that’s not chaotic, Heinicke responded: “Trust me, we would like that as well. “I like the physical nature of guys lining up and trying to move somebody and control the clock and grind it out.” Washington ran the ball 30 times in the win at the Las Vegas Raiders. Part of the success has been a winning formula predicated on running the ball and taking some pressure off quarterback Taylor Heinicke. We’ve had players that we’ve been able to plug in and have them play because they’ve been ready to play.”
“I think the coaches have done a really good job in preparation,” he said. Rivera credited the personnel department and position coaches for Washington’s ability to withstand so many injuries and keep rolling Washington could be without top tight end Logan Thomas when the team hosts the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but Rivera said an MRI did not confirm the worst fears of a torn ACL.īut Washington has dealt with injuries to reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young, fellow pass rusher Montez Sweat, linebacker Jon Bostic, safety Landon Collins and center Chase Roullier, so playing down another starter is nothing new. We go out and play the way we’re capable of, we give ourselves a chance, and that’s where we wanted to be.” “What’s going to happen to the Washington Football Team is now in our hands. “We’re at the part where we control it,” Rivera said Monday. A four-game winning streak has vaulted Washington to 6-6 and right in the thick of the chase for not only a spot but possibly a second consecutive division title. He told players it was an opportunity if they could still be in the playoff race by this stretch. When the NFL schedule came out in May, Ron Rivera loved that Washington finished the season with five games against NFC East competition.
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