The Washington Football Team is looking for its first division title since 2015.
It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a rough year for just about everyone. And when it comes to the NFL and business, it has been an almost unfathomable offseason for the franchise in the nation’s capital. Among other things, the organization opted to retire its name and is currently known as the Washington Football Team.
On the field, the club is looking to rebound from a dismal 3-13 season with a new head coach in veteran Ron Rivera, who spent nine-plus seasons with the Carolina Panthers and has his share of success. The team made news this week with the hiring of new team president Jason Wright (via John Keim of ESPN).
Washington’s last division title came in 2015 when the team rallied late in the year and finished with a 9-7 record. The franchise’s last double-digit win season came in 2012 when they captured the NFC East with a 10-6 mark. However, over the past four seasons, this is a squad that owns a combined 25-38-1 win-loss record.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the reigning division champions. But the NFC East has not had a repeat winner since the Birds won it four straight years from 2001-04. It’s a quartet that has seen its share of last to first division winners in recent years.
So why not Washington under Rivera, who led Carolina to four playoff appearances in a five-year span and an appearance in Super Bowl 50. Here is how this club could get it done?