Washington Football Team Reality Checks for Week 7 at Green Bay

The Washington Football Team enters Week 7 with more questions than answers, more problems than solutions, and the prospects of facing Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady in two of their next three games.

Combine that with having to look way up in the standings to find the Cowboys, and it’s no wonder that Washington fans aren’t exactly in the best of moods right now. But just because things aren’t going well doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to discuss. Just because the season has been a massive disappointment so far doesn’t mean it’s a total loss with nothing to play for. Just because Rodgers is waiting in Green Bay to continue his historic ownership of Washington doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to this Sunday’s contest.

At least guys who were out earlier in the week practiced on Thursday:

So on that note, let’s jump into our Week 7 Reality Checks:

6. The Reality Is, this week is make or break for Taylor Heinicke

It’s totally unfair, in normal terms, that a make or break game for a player’s career as a starting quarterback would be an away game In Lambeau Field against a dramatically superior opponent, with some of his key weapons and linemen nicked, injured and unavailable. But the NFL is a cold business, and Heinicke has struggled in recent weeks. He grew up a Packers’ fan. Brett Favre was his idol.

Maybe he can make some magic at Lambeau, but if Heinicke struggles again in Green Bay, it’s entirely possible that Kyle Allen will start the following week vs Denver, and Heinicke may never get the opportunity to start again in the NFL.

While countless factors will have gone into the offense’s struggles, much like the decision to cut Dustin Hopkins, the decision will be made to bench Heinicke. If he manages to stave off the benching with a decent or better game vs. the Packers, he may manage to keep his job until Fitzpatrick returns (or until his next poor performance, whichever comes first).  At this point, it’s clear that Heinicke doesn’t have the physical abilities to warrant long-term starter consideration, so it’s really only a matter of time before this coaching staff moves on.