The entire Washington secondary needs to Put up their Dukes

It appears that the Washington Football Team defense has finally turned the corner. More impressively, they’re playing at a high level despite being without their most two talented players on the team in defensive ends, Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

In the first half of the season, the secondary for Washington Football Team was a massive disappointment. With so many new pieces, they were a big reason why the team allowed nearly 31 points per game during the 2-6 start.

However, during the four-game winning streak, the Washington secondary has contained Tom Brady, spoiled Cam Newton’s homecoming, limited Russell Wilson for 58 minutes, and held Derek Carr to 249 passing yards. Heading into the game, Carr was leading the NFL in passing yards. The secondary also played a significant role in limiting the number one scoring offense in the NFL in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 19 points, and both the Seahawks and Raiders to a combined 30 points.

Against the Las Vegas Raiders, the defense held the Raiders offense to 2/8 on third downs. Derek Carr was limited to 249 yards on 38 attempts, only three passing plays of 20 yards and more, and no passing touchdowns. Heading into the contest, Carr was 10th in ESPN’s Total QBR metric and was first in passing yards. Washington held Carr under his season averages in yards per completion and yards per game. Derek Carr led a Raiders offense to 36 points and 503 yards versus the Dallas Cowboys in a Thanksgiving win.

The WFT defense has also limited opposing offenses to 12/39 on third downs during their four-game winning streak. During the 2-6 start, opposing offenses converted 65/115 on third downs. Since Week 7, the Washington Football Team secondary has allowed an average of 218.3 passing yards. The secondary, without question, deserves credit for the defensive turnaround. The pass rush is lacking without the aforementioned Sweat and Young, but the coverage on the backend has been outstanding in recent weeks.

The Washington Football Team defense has their stiffest test yet with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an offense more explosive in all of football, led by quarterback Dak Prescott. Through the first 12 games, Prescott is completing 69 percent of his passes (287/416) to go along with 3,170 passing yards. He’s also thrown 23 touchdowns to eight interceptions and has an impressive 101.7 passer rating.

In addition, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are the most productive running back tandem in the NFL. They both can make opposing defenses pay on the ground and through the air.  Elliott has rushed for 765 yards on 176 carries averaging 4.4 yards per rush. He also has eight rushing touchdowns. Pollard has rushed for 602 yards on 107 carries averaging 5.6 yards per rush. Pollard has also added two rushing touchdowns.

Both players are also threats in the receiving game. Elliott has 40 receptions, 230 receiving yards, and one touchdown, while Pollard has 31 catches for 259 receiving yards. However, according to ESPN, both Elliott and Pollard have been hampered with injuries, and both running backs are game-time decisions.

The Washington secondary will have their hands full with tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receivers Micheal Gallup, Amari Cooper, and their leading receiver CeeDee Lamb. Gallup and Cooper have dealt with injuries all season, but both players are fully healthy. Cooper has 46 catches for 624 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Although he only has 22 receptions for 264 yards and a touchdown, Gallup’s big-play ability is worrisome for Washington’s defense.

With injuries at the linebacker position for Washington, Schultz could be in store for a big game. Tight ends have traditionally given Washington issues, and, surprisingly, Schultz is second in receptions on the Cowboys explosive offense with 52 catches. He also has 548 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Lamb has blossomed into the number one receiving option on the Dallas offense in his second season out of Oklahoma. He leads the Cowboys with 57 receptions, 829 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.

With a win versus the archrival Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Football Team will not only match their win total from last season with seven, but they will also be one game behind Dallas in the NFC East standings.

At the beginning of the season, it was tough sledding for the entire Washington Football Team secondary. Players weren’t on one accord, but the secondary in particular has done a complete 180 during Washington’s four-game winning streak. If they are to extend it to five, the secondary must play their best game of the 2021 season.