Washington Football Team must break this trend to find success

It is not a Washington Football Team game if it doesn’t feature a slow start.

In every game except against Dallas, the Washington Football Team has started poorly. In the first quarter alone, the Washington Football Team is getting outscored 67-23 in their first nine games. In the first half, it is a dismal 139-82 deficit in favor of the Washington Football Team’s opponents.

Only once has the Washington Football Team had a lead at halftime. And only once when trailing has the deficit been by one score or less.

Furthermore, the Washington Football Team is the only team in the NFL to have not scored on its first drive. Washington is terrible at starting games. Terrible.

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That is a trend that must be bucked. It cannot continue if Washington ever wants to build a consistent winner. I am high on this coaching staff, and I like some of the young pieces, but none of it matters if they come out flat every game.

To their credit, fighting back is usually not a problem for the Washington Football Team. Against the Eagles, Browns, the Giants twice, and now, the Lions, they have made the games competitive. Against the Eagles, they completed a come-from-behind victory.

This team fights. The coaches are good at halftime adjustments. There are pieces on this team to give you hope that this team has a bright future.

These positives will be null and void if the Washington Football Team does not begin to start better.

It has become embarrassing how awful this team is at starting games. The entire team would be so much better if they didn’t have to play absolutely perfect in the second half to give themselves a chance. That is hard for any team, and given the deficiency of talent in spots on this team, that is a borderline impossible task.

I will reiterate, there are positives to still takeaway. The Washington Football Team has great resolve. Quarterback Alex Smith played an impressive game against the Lions, almost pulling off a comeback for the second week in a row. Ron Rivera’s staff, unlike the previous staff, is good at making halftime adjustments. There are flashes of good complimentary football from this team.

And, yeah I am going to say it, the NFC East is still up for the taking.

However, they have to start games better. Given how impressive this staff is at halftime adjustments, they may just have something if they weren’t digging themselves out of double-digit deficits every second half.

Next. Studs and duds from Washington's loss vs. Detroit. dark

Starting poorly is a trend that is becoming concerning. This coaching needs to find a way to mend the problem and very soon. You cannot win games consistently with this formula, no matter how talented the team becomes.

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