Washington Football Team: 3 things to love and hate from Week 1 loss

The much-anticipated return of the 2020 NFC East division champions in front of fans didn’t quite go as planned. The Washington Football Team dropped to 0-1 after a 20-16 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.

For a football game in Washington DC, it had just about everything you could ask for. A pinch of bad officiating here, a dash of quarterback controversy there. It may have been one game, but there’s no doubt that football season is back in the nation’s capital.

Before we jump into the ins and outs, the first honorable mention in the list of things I like belongs to you, the fans. To see thousands of Washington Football fans packed in Landover for the first time in over a year was good for the soul.

The return of football brought smiles and cheers to stadiums and homes all around the world today. Cheers to that, and cheers to you all out there for bringing life back to football.

With that said, let’s take a look at the game that was and dive into three things I liked, and three things I hated in Washington’s season-opening loss to the chargers. Let’s start with the hardest part of this piece, finding things I liked. There weren’t many, but let’s see what I can do here.

Washington Football Team: 3 things to love and hate from Week 1

6. Things I liked: Taylor Heinicke

Let’s be clear. We are talking about the Washington Football Team. We all expected QB controversy at one point or another this season. But who would have thought it came before halftime of week 1?

It was an injury that removed Ryan Fitzpatrick and catapulted fan-favorite Taylor Heinicke to the starting spot on Sunday, and just as he did against the Buccaneers, he injected life into a lifeless first half offense. Fitzpatrick left Sunday’s game with just 13 yards to his name going 3/6 through the air.

Heinicke stepped in and things just felt different. 11/15 for 122 yards and a touchdown won’t win you a gold jacket. But you don’t have to be a paid professional or coach to know that he moves the offense well, and looks comfortable doing so.

His lone touchdown pass was a dime to tight end Logan Thomas who climbed the ladder to haul it in. Heinicke knows the offense, and his growth and gutsy play have made him an instant fan favorite.

He entered to the chant of “Heinicke, Heinicke, Heinicke!” not quite knowing when Fitzpatrick would take the field again. But the latest reports confirm Fitz will miss 6-8 weeks with a hip subluxation, so this team belongs to Heinicke. If he can move the offense the same way he did against the Chargers brighter days are sure to come.