Washington Football Team Reality Checks: Week 11 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
By Tim Payne
5. The Reality Is, this team needs a win.
Ron Rivera has wisely dialed back his “playoffs” rhetoric following the team’s disappointing showings against New York and Detroit. But if he’s going to be successful in selling his team, fans, and owner that he’s moving things in the right direction in Washington this season, he does need to notch a few more wins.
Young players are getting opportunities all over this roster. And it’s great that they’re getting reps, but it’s not great if there isn’t clear and obvious development and improvement happening from week to week. Last week was a step back for the defense, and a few offensive players struggled mightily, too.
If fans are expected to be optimistic moving forward, there will need to be some consistent progress shown in a few key areas in particular.
At least one tackle not named Morgan Moses will have to step up. Moses was admirable in his swap over to left tackle after Cornelius Lucas was injured on Sunday. But David Sharpe struggled mightily.
Jon Bostic has proven he’s not a starting middle linebacker, so now is the time to see what you have in Shaun Dion Hamilton or Khaleke Hudson or move Cole Holcomb inside and play Curl as the WILL linebacker. Troy Apke is a disaster, so give Jeremy Reaves a chance to play.
My Prediction: Status quo will remain until the team loses one more game to a bad/undermanned team (Cincinnati, San Fransisco, Dallas), at which point, all bets are off and untested players will take over a handful of positions. And I don’t think that happens this week.
Next. Five players to watch for Washington in Week 11. dark
Rivera and Jack Del Rio will get a few things cleaned up on the defensive play-calling and personnel groupings, and Washington will have a cleaner game from an execution standpoint. Expect a bit of a shootout, though, with the final coming in at 32-29, Washington, on a late Dustin Hopkins field goal.