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Washington Football Team’s “next man up” philosophy evident in 2020

By Hirdesh Matta

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Football Team drops back to pass against the defense of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Football Team drops back to pass against the defense of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with Terry McLaurin #17 during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with Terry McLaurin #17 during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Alex Smith showing resilience

Not enough can be said about Alex Smith and the difference he makes for this team. Regardless of what people say about his checkdown tendencies or how many yards he throws per game, he somehow finds a way to lead this team to victory.

After going through 17 surgeries and everything that he has dealt with, just being cleared to play football again would have been an accomplishment. But Smith wanted more; he’s a warrior and he wanted a chance to get back on the field.

He got that chance in Week 5 after Kyle Allen was knocked out of the game with a concussion. From the look on his wife’s face, you could tell that she was worried about how his leg would hold up. Yet here was Smith getting body-slammed by Aaron Donald and getting back up smiling. No, he wasn’t able to will the team to victory that day, but that mamba mindset had to rub off on the team.

In Week 9, after Allen’s season-ending injury, Smith took over as the starter. Since that time, Washington has gone 4-2. The two losses were each only three-point deficits, so even in the losses, the team had remained competitive throughout.

It hasn’t always been pretty. During the four-game winning streak, Smith has a 1:1 TD-to-INT ratio and a paltry 5.76 yards per pass attempt, which would rank dead-last in the NFL over the course of a full season. But despite that, the team has been winning.

He has made the key passes when they count, like this dime to Cam Sims.

He has also made some “veteran plays” like running off the field with the ball before the half, which led to confusion and gave Washington a chance to get their field goal off.

All this while dealing with what is tied for the third-least pocket time in the NFL, and while being pressured on 30.2% of his throws, second-most in the NFL.

He is the epitome of stepping up when your number is called.

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