Washington Football Team: Three takeaways from win vs. Bengals
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – Washington is back in contention for the dismal NFC East
It’s important to remember that regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, this is a rebuilding year. And in the context of the previous takeaway, Washington is a young team. Yes, they’re not good enough to beat superior teams, but that should be expected, in a sense. It’s Ron Rivera’s first year. There’s no need to rush.
But even with these pre-existing truths, the Washington Football Team still finds itself alive in the playoff race, and only a half-game out of the NFC East lead. The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Browns today, by a score of 22-17, and now they hold a flimsy division lead at 3-6-1.
Let’s not kid ourselves; Washington is still bad. A win against a hapless Bengals squad doesn’t change that. But by virtue of the other NFC East teams, they still have something to play for in 2020, and if they end up winning the division, it might mean something for the culture moving forward, even if they get obliterated in the playoffs.
Of course, there’s still work to be done for Washington to reach that point, and after getting swept by the Giants, their fate isn’t entirely in their hands. But as long as they out-win New York in the final weeks, and as long as they pass the Eagles, they have a chance to get in. They have to win on their own volition at some point, however, rather than acting as rudderless benefactors of opposing dysfunction.
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It’s a best-of-the-worst trophy, which won’t get you far in a league where only Super Bowl rings matter. But it gives the Washington Football Team something to play for. There’s something of substance there.