Washington Football Team: Ravens are a big test for Dwayne Haskins

Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins’ play on Sunday against the Cleveland certaintly wasn’t great.

For what seems like the first time, the fanbase is questioning Dwayne Haskins‘ ability to be the Washington Football Team‘s franchise quarterback. How Haskins responds to the criticism will be crucial on Sunday.

It is one year, three weeks, and nine starts into Haskins’ young career. He has had some highs and some really low lows throughout his short tenure with the Washington Football Team. Despite that, the franchise has stuck firmly behind Haskins. They did not give him the Josh Rosen treatment this offseason. He received his fair share of criticism from everyone, but everyone still firmly believed he could be the guy.

After a productive offseason where he shed about ten pounds and became a team captain, the ship had seemed to be steered. The last two games of his 2019 campaign had been his best, and with his stellar offseason, he seemed to be on an upward trend. However, his 2020 season for the Washington Football Team has been less than spectacular.

Haskins’ leadership capabilities were on display against the Eagles, but the stat line was meager. After an exciting Week 1 victory, Haskins’ play has significantly dropped. And last Sunday, he had maybe the worst start of his career.

In a game like football, it is hard to pin a win or a loss on one player. However, the play of Haskins was reason No. 1 Washington fell out of contention in that game and there was not really a close second.

With his play on Sunday combined with his overall stagnation in mechanics and footwork from last year, people are questioning Haskins’ capability of being the starting quarterback for the future of this franchise.

These questions are even more heightened considering a weak NFC East and some rather weak opponents on tap in the near future. The division, despite two straight losses, is there to be had for Washington.

What was once seen as a “development year” could quickly turn into a “let’s win the NFC East year.” The veteran players in the locker room will not let a prime opportunity go by for the development of a player that is not helping them win. As Ron Rivera has repeatedly said, the team needs to see growth from Haskins this week.

The Ravens are coming to Landover. In a game between two teams that have stadiums in the same state, Haskins has to rise to the occasion. The Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL so judging Haskins is a little harsh. However, it is fair to judge Haskins based on how much he cuts down his turnover-worthy plays.

Most of all, Haskins cannot let the Ravens come in and run circles around Washington. Starting in Week 4, to be this team’s true franchise quarterback, this team and fanbase needs a game from Haskins that we can point to and say “he was good.” Too often, we have pointed only to specific throws or a drive.

This team needs a full game to point to. Haskins needs to show the elite talent this week that made everyone so excited when he was originally drafted. As the fanbase becomes restless, seeing the growth of Dwayne Haskins this week is crucial. Can he respond to the criticism and produce a game that makes everyone go: “Wow, Dwayne was GOOD.”

Washington needs the best of Haskins to show up on the field Sunday. Will Haskins be like 2019 Haskins and continue to grow every week? Or will he stagnate, or even worse, regress? The division is wide open; go and take the NFC East and prove yourself to be, without question, this team’s starter. Like coach Rivera has said, it is about the growth for Haskins. It is time for Haskins to continue to grow and show why “the league done messed up.”