Washington Football Team: Ryan Kerrigan proved his worth in Week 1

Ryan Kerrigan reminded the Washington Football Team and everyone who he is in Week 1.

There are a lot of great things to talk about when it comes to the Washington Football Team‘s first game of the season. Ryan Kerrigan deserves his flowers first though. Yes, Chase Young was a stud. The front seven looked incredible as well. Meanwhile, the secondary found a groove and Dwayne Haskins impressed in his season debut.

But it was Kerrigan that led the way. The same Kerrigan that has been getting a lot of heat from a large portion of the fanbase over the last year or so. Why was that? Well, 2019 saw Kerrigan miss a game for the first time in his career. In fact, he appeared in only 12. He also recorded a career-low 5.5 sacks in that time.

And with a young and exciting group in the front seven, it felt like Kerrigan was taking time away from a rising prospect to most people. This is Ryan Kerrigan though. And in Week 1, he reminded everyone exactly who he is.

Don’t sleep on Ryan Kerrigan as the heart of the Washington Football Team defense.

Washington needed something, a spark. And Kerrigan came up with the first sack of the day. It also was the 91st sack of his career, which tied him with Dexter Manley for the Washington franchise record. Kerrigan officially set the tone of the day as this was the start of something special for the defense.

Then in the fourth quarterback, Washington had come back from 17-0 to tie it 17-17. And on the very first play of the Eagles’ possession after Washington tied it, Kerrigan came up with another sack. Immediately putting Philadelphia in a hole on the drive. That was his 92nd career sack and he now stands alone as the franchise leader in that category.

His day was not done though. Washington was up 27-17 with a little over three minutes to go. Philadelphia had the ball and needed to score to keep their hopes alive. Da’Ron Payne and Young came up with a split sack and Payne knocked the ball loose. It was Kerrigan how recovered the ball, effectively ending the game.

Washington finished the game with an amazing eight sacks. Jon Bostic took one of them. Outside of that, it was mainly the young studs on the defensive line.

Payne and Jonathan Allen both had a half-sack. Montez Sweat recorded one sack, and Matthew Ioannidis and Chase Young both racked up 1.5 sacks. Kerrigan led the way with two though. Two sacks and a fumble recovery. He also had some nice plays to break up potential screen passes and helped his teammates pick up a few of those sacks.

In Week 1, Kerrigan reminded the football world that he is an elite talent. He silenced the critics and helped will Washington back into the game and to a 1-0 record. Ryan Kerrigan is still a problem for opposing offenses, and that’s incredible news for the Washington Football Team.