Can Washington’s defensive unit take the next step?
The 2020 NFC East champion Washington Football Team was led by an aggressive defensive unit that may just be scratching the surface when it comes to its potential.
It was a club that allowed the fifth-most total yards in the league in 2019. And only the Cincinnati Bengals surrendered more yards on the ground. In what would prove to be a 3-13 showing, Washington gave up 435 points and finished dead last in their division.
Then came the hiring of head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. The Washington Football Team more than doubled its win total from the previous season. And a 7-9 finish was good enough to capture the NFC East.
The playoff appearance was spurred by quite the talented defense. This past season, only the Los Angeles Rams allowed fewer total yards and fewer aerial yards per game than the Washington Football Team.
From 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young to Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat. All former first-round draft choices and in terms of building a group, it’s reminiscent of the Rams roughly a decade ago and, more recently, the San Francisco 49ers. But the latter has seen that group broken up a bit as the DeForest Buckner was dealt to Indianapolis in 2020 and Solomon Thomas did not have his fifth-year year option picked up and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rivera’s club finished 2020 with 47 sacks, 23 takeaways while allowing only 35 offensive touchdowns. The latter number is significant as only the Rams (29) and Baltimore Ravens (34) were stingier in that regard.
Of course, 2021 will be a different year for a lot of reasons, the most significant being a 17-game slate. In Week 1 at home, Rivera’s club will try to school 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert as the Los Angeles Chargers arrive in Landover for the first time since 2013.
The young signal-caller set a rookie record in 2020 with 31 touchdown passes despite the fact that he played in only 15 games. But now he will face Young, Sweat and one of the most potent pass rushes in the league. It’s a good test for two teams with identical records a year ago.
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No team has repeated in the NFC East since the Philadelphia Eagles won the division four straight years from 2001-04. Washington has a new quarterback in journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick as well as play-maker Curtis Samuel. And with a little more experience and additions such as rookie linebacker Jamin Davis (via ESPN’s John Keim) and former Dolphins’ safety Bobby McCain, it could also features the league’s best defense in 2021.