Washington Redskins: Three things to learn from the Philadelphia Eagles

No. 1 – Culture matters

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce said it best, with glistening eyes and a runny nose.

“The resiliency of this team is incredible… As the season went along, nobody gave us the inclination that we were the best team in the NFL… But the fact that we were able to overcome everything, and just keep moving forward… I can’t help but be a little bit emotional.”

The Eagles’ players could have clocked out when Carson Wentz went down. They could have sat down and decided “ah, well, the divisional round is good enough. We’ll get there next year.”

But they didn’t. They committed to the cause, and not only that, but they bought in. For the final weeks of the season, and the entire post-season, the Eagles’ players were fully invested in the all of the game, every game, and nothing but the game.

It helps to have a roster set up for success. But the Washington Redskins are not far from having that. It remains to be seen how many more times Bruce Allen will step in the team’s way, in that regard. But they were close to contention, and with draft picks like Montae Nicholson and Jonathan Allen, they’re only getting closer.

As we saw earlier, it doesn’t have to take decades to form a team into a contender. The Philadelphia Eagles only needed two years. Now, to have the same expectations for Bruce Allen is irrational, in a sense. But this is the NFL. Anything can happen. Anything.

Next: 3 cornerbacks for the Redskins to target in free agency

As long as the Washington Redskins buy into their ability to win, and as long as they make that their primary goal, their primary focus, week in and week out, then they have as good a chance as anyone to become the next league surprise.