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Washington Football Team Reality Checks: Wild Card weekend vs. Buccaneers

By Tim Payne

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 03: Defensive end Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team reacts after winning 20-14 over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 03: Defensive end Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team reacts after winning 20-14 over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 03: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team throws an incomplete pass as he is pressured by defensive tackle Malik Jackson #97 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 03: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team throws an incomplete pass as he is pressured by defensive tackle Malik Jackson #97 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. The Reality Is, Alex Smith, even gimpy, is Washington’s best choice to start at QB.

Doug Williams, Joe Theisman, Sonny Jurgensen, and Sammy Baugh aren’t walking through that door. Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III (the last two Washington QBs to play in the playoffs) aren’t available.

Washington is down to a hobbled Alex Smith, Taylor Heinicke of XFL bench-warming fame, and the undrafted, unheralded Steven Montez. Of the three, nothing about Taylor Heinicke’s eight minutes against Carolina should convince you that he gives Washington the best chance to win on Saturday.

Could he provide a spark? Sure. Could he pull off a miracle? Possibly. But Alex Smith’s force of will, alongside Ron Rivera’s, has inspired this team to heights nobody expected of them at the beginning of this season.

Unless Smith is simply unable to go, he should start the game against Tampa Bay.

My Prediction: Smith will start the game and look good doing so. At some point, his leg will lock up again, and Heinicke will have to come in and manage the remainder of the game. Heinicke will play better without the pressure of starting, and Alex’s starting presence will help calm down the rest of the team.

Expect Rivera to have a quick hook for Smith if his leg acts up or if the team gets down two scores and Smith isn’t immediately able to counterpunch with a scoring drive.

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