Washington Football Team Week 1 Reality Checks

By Tim Payne | Sep 12, 2020

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 15: Chase Roullier #73 of the Washington football team prepares to snap the ball off to Dwayne Haskins #7 during the second half of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 08: Wide receiver Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Football Team celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

1. The Reality Is… the first half will not be as good as last season’s opening half.

The high point of last season was two minutes into the second quarter of the opening game, when Washington took a 17-0 lead over the Eagles with a 69-yard bomb from Case Keenum to Terry McLaurin.

After that, the horrendous defense almost immediately gave up a deep shot to DeSean Jackson, and basically the entire season was downhill from there.

Don’t plan on that this year. Expect the Eagles to be ready for McLaurin. Expect the game to be sloppy early. Expect Washington to look like a team with a new coaching staff and no preseason games in the first quarter.

My Prediction: Eagles will have the lead at halftime. Somewhere around 17-6.

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