5 negatives for Washington Football Team vs Broncos

Grades and Prediction

For the fourth week in a row, the Washington Football Team lost on a Sunday afternoon and the season has slipped away.  The grades this week are mixed – there are some encouraging signs for the defense and critical analyses for the offense.  It sure would be nice to talk about some positives around here, but the bye week will allow us to step back and catch our collective breaths.  Brainless mistakes cost the team dearly on Sunday and the offense shoulders most of that blame.

The lack of basic football fundamentals each week is more than perplexing.  It’s mind-boggling to the point where the hearts of some players could be questioned.  Again, we don’t want to be pointing fingers or be harsh to the point where it is insulting, but it is fair at this time to ask what is in the hearts and minds of these players.  Perhaps that is a conversation for another time, but it is something to ponder during the bye week

• Quarterbacks – Taylor Heinicke takes ten small steps forward and destroys it all with one major mistake.  Don’t be afraid to throw into a crowded end zone on any Hail Mary pass.  Grade: F
• Running Backs – Antonio Gibson needs the bye to heal as much as possible.  Jaret Patterson was solid in relief on Sunday and J.D. McKissic continues to be a solid player coming off the bench.  Grade: C+
• Tight Ends – Ricky Seals-Jones had a huge blunder as the fourth option on one pass play.  He casually caught a pass out of bounds – a huge mental mistake.  Grade: D-
• Wide Receivers – The wide receivers were decent enough, but Terry McLaurin needed to have more passes thrown in his direction.  Grade: C
• Offensive Line – The offensive line struggled for the second week in a row and the depth is being severely challenged now.  Grade: D
• Defensive Line – Jon Allen is having a career year, but it is being wasted in so many ways.  Chase Young continues to improve each week.  Grade: B
• Linebackers – Landon Collins is now in the right position to make plays.  Cole Holcomb had a solid game and Jamin Davis is still behind the learning curve.  Grade: B-
• Cornerbacks – The unit was fairly good on Sunday, but the competition wasn’t that big of a deal to be honest.  Grade: B-
• Safeties – Kamren Curl continues to be a rising star and Bobby McCain was a huge negative this week.  Grade: C
• Special Teams – Tress Way had another fine game.  Do we really need to talk about the kicker again?  Grade: D+
• Coaches – The defense is improving.  The offense is struggling.  The new kicker has major issues.  Red zone mistakes and miscues are killing the Washington Football Team.  However, the coaches can’t go out there and make plays themselves.  It is up to the team to perform as expected.  Grade: C-

Washington needs some soul searching during the bye week

Prediction vs. Buccaneers

Yes, we must talk about the November 14 game at FedEx Field, and painfully so.  Washington is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and the near future is looking very bleak.  Tampa Bay is coming off of a bruising loss to New Orleans and the last thing any team wants to do is face an angry Tom Brady.  That is when he can be the most dangerous and destructive to opposing teams.  It doesn’t help the Washington Football Team to know that the Buccaneers are also in their bye week as well.  That spells major trouble for the Burgundy and Gold.

The Bucs open the scoring with a quick drive down the field and make life miserable for Washington in the first half.  It is 28-7 by halftime and Tampa Bay is on cruise control.  The visitors from sunny Florida sail to a victory as Washington scores a late touchdown to make the score a bit more respectable.

Buccaneers 41  Washington 21

Final Thoughts

For the Washington Football Team fans who visit Riggo’s Rag routinely, losing seasons year after year must be difficult to read about and digest.  However, the Burgundy and Gold faithful have plenty of thick skin and can endure a lot.  Yours truly believes that better days are ahead, but more pain is likely to happen before the grass turns green again.

The bye week comes at a good time for several players, including Montez Sweat – a late addition to the injured list with a broken jaw.  Many of them could return to the roster after being injured in recent weeks.  A few players need the break to heal from minor injuries as well.  What kind of impact will they have upon returning to the lineup?  When will the losing streak end?  When will this team finally be on the road to true success?  These questions will be answered, but the timetable is unknown.  The grades and weekly prediction will return after the bye week.  Stay positive!