Washington Football Team: 10 quick thoughts from fourth-straight loss

The Washington Football Team entered their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos in desperate need of a win.

If you didn’t know the records of these squads entering the game, you likely could’ve predicted that both had losing records. Let’s just say much more attractive brands of football were on display during the Halloween slate.

All that matters, though, is that Washington lost. Ron Rivera’s side now sit at 2-6 with the bye week on deck and the defending champion Buccaneers awaiting on the schedule in Week 10. Could it get much worse?

We’re not going to answer that (it probably can). For now, let’s dive into some quick thoughts from Washington’s fourth consecutive defeat.

10 quick thoughts from Washington’s Week 8

Bad play-calling: Washington put together a punishing opening drive. Taylor Heinicke carved open Denver’s defense with his legs and JD Mckissic made a couple of splash plays. When push came to shove, though, Ron Rivera dialed up a quick out to Ricky Seals-Jones on 4th and 1 that had no chance of being converted even if the tight end came up with the catch. Why abandon the run in that situation?

A failed tight end screen on a 2nd and 4 with Washington knocking on the door early in the second quarter halted another strong drive before a Saahdiq Charles false start capped another brutal sequence of events for the offense.

Missed opportunities: On Washington’s first defensive possession, Bobby McCain dropped a WIDE open interception. The veteran safety looked to have reeled it in, but it was jarred loose (by the air?) at the defining moment. Luckily, a James-Smith Williams sack and a penalty on Denver derailed what looked to be a promising drive. This missed opportunity could have cost Washington big time in a different scenario.

So, about releasing Dustin Hopkins: Wait, so you’re telling us releasing Dustin Hopkins, which we said could blow up in Washington’s face, hasn’t panned out? After Sunday’s second quarter debacle, three of Chris Blewitt’s first four field goal attempts for the club have failed to make it past the line of scrimmage.

Blewitt’s first attempt vs Denver wasn’t even blocked. The kick had so little air underneath it that it ricocheted off Wes Schweitzer’s helmet. Just minutes later, Brandon McManus drilled a 45-yarder to give Denver a 3-0 lead.

Because football makes no sense whatsoever, Blewitt, much like he did last week, responded by nailing a 52-yarder. You can’t make it up.

BUT WAIT.

We actually had that written out before Blewitt attempted a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter. In the most predictable outcome ever, this kick was blocked, too, and it led to Denver scoring a go-ahead TD.

Rivera has some serious explaining to do.