By: Emdad Swapan, Co-Sports Editor/ Social Media Correspondent
For the first time since 2015, The Washington Football Team has won the NFC East. Sitting at 7-9, Washington beat Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football in controversial fashion, to clinch the division title. The main controversy was Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson’s questionable coaching decisions. Late in the 3rd quarter, he opted to go for it on 4th & goal, trailing by just a field goal. This failed but was not the main controversy the country was talking about. In the 4th quarter, he abruptly benched rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in favor of Nate Sudfeld. Sudfeld had never started an NFL game before and had no business being in the game as it was still close. Hurts was not having a great game passing, despite two rushing touchdowns. His receivers were not helpful either, dropping easy passes or running the wrong routes. This game was important for both Washington and the New York Giants, who were rooting for an Eagles win. An Eagles win would have given both Washington and New York a 6-10 record, but a head to head tiebreaker would have given the Giants the NFC East title.
No matter what, Washington won the division. It was far from easy for them. In Head Coach Ron Rivera’s inaugural season, Washington has fought the most unforeseen circumstances. A name change, Rivera’s cancer diagnosis and cancer defeat, Alex Smith’s heroic return and a 5-1 regular season record as starter, Dwayne Haskins controversial decisions and his eventual release, overcoming a 2-7 record to become the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after that start, and many more. So celebrate Washington fans! They will host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night, a game many expect to be a good one as Washington has a defense which could give Brady some trouble.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, 2nd in NFC South) vs The Washington Football Team (7-9, 1st in NFC East) Wild Card Weekend Game
Time/Date- 8:15 PM Est, Saturday, January 9th @ Fedex Field Landover, Maryland
Channel-NBC
Announcers- Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, & Katheryn Tappen
