Washington Football Team Reality Checks: Week 16 vs. Panthers

4. The Reality Is, McLaurin is hurt, but he’s tough.

Terry McLaurin has largely spent the last three weeks gutting out reps on his injured ankle. It’s obvious he hasn’t been fully healthy for quite some time, but he’s continued to give 100 percent on every rep, drawing coverages away from his teammates and making the occasional tough catch.

McLaurin’s receiving numbers are down after not seeing the targets he’s accustomed to, but he’s still doing the dirty work of blocking down field and sprinting full-speed even when he knows he’s not getting the ball.

My Prediction: Combine his top-notch work ethic with the fact that he was snubbed for the Pro Bowl, and it’s reasonable to expect The Captain will put in a solid six-catch, 75-yard day on Sunday.

5. The Reality Is, Washington should win this game.

The Panthers have zero to play for. They are better off losing, as that would almost guarantee them a top-five draft pick. Their superstar is injured. Meanwhile, Washington has their playoff destiny in their own hands.

There’s no reason Washington shouldn’t find a way to win this game. Regardless of whether it’s with a hobbled Alex Smith or a disgraced Dwayne Haskins, this team should still be able to put together enough quality drives to beat a mediocre team.

But history shows us that often the team with more to play for ends up playing tight and making a ton of mistakes. Outside of injuries, there is nothing on paper to suggest Washington will lose this game. They should win it. They are favored for a reason and are better than the Panthers in all three phases of the game.

My Prediction: The team will respond to Rivera’s handling of the Haskins situation by coming together to pull off a win in Carolina. It won’t be an easy game, and it won’t be without its classic WFT moments. But they will manage to avoid ever falling behind by double digits, and Ron Rivera will get the win in his first chance against his former team.

Washington wins 20-18 and locks up the NFC East crown, capping one of the oddest seasons in franchise history.