Can the Washington Football Team Become a Dynamic NFL Futures Bet?

The Washington Football Team may have finished 7-9 in 2020. And despite their pedestrian record, they won the NFC East and played well with a fourth string quarterback in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl Champion, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

In 2021, the Washington Football Team will take the next step. But are they becoming a dynamic NFL futures bet? Washington must ward off the upstart Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East alone. Plus, Washington’s recent history has been bleak at best. 

They still don’t have a legitimate quarterback. But their defense and offensive skill positions are among the best in the NFL. 

Today’s post will dissect whether Washington figures to be a smart futures bet in the NFL. So, if you’re considering putting a wager, this post is a must-read. 

Washington Football Team’s Defense Will Take the Next Step

Washington’s defense allowed just 329 points in 2020, six fewer than they scored on offense. Considering a pedestrian offense, it shows just how lethal their defense is. Their points against were so good, it ranked fourth in the league. 

But that wasn’t the only statistic you need to know. 

The Washington Football Team finished second in total defense, behind only the Los Angeles Rams. They were third in the NFL in first downs allowed, second in passing defense, and a respectable 14th in rushing defense. They also finished sixth in sacks with that lethal defensive line, led by rookie and Team Captain, Chase Young, with 47. 

As the adage goes, defense wins championships. And Washington has a championship-caliber defense to take them there. 

Want more fun?

Washington also switched defensive systems under then-first-year coach, Ron Rivera. Add the fact the team had no offseason or preseason to prepare, it’s even a further impressive feat. Imagine what this team can do with a full offseason, potential preseason, and a year of experience under their belt. 

That’s pretty impressive. And it shows Washington doesn’t need an offense to play lights-out all the time to win football games. Give them a halfway decent quarterback to work with, and they will win a few more games than they did last season. 

Speaking of quarterbacks, let’s talk about them. 

Who Will Line Up Under Center for Washington?

Washington had quite the quarterback conundrum in 2020. It started with the ineffective Dwayne Haskins, who didn’t stick to see it through to the playoffs. After a 2-7 start, Haskins was out, but even before that, Kyle Allen replaced him at quarterback. 

Because of Allen’s injury, Washington turned to Alex Smith, who hadn’t played in nearly two years because of a gruesome compound spiral fracture to the tibia and fibula. But after 17 surgeries and two years of rehab, Smith finished the season on a positive note and led the team to the playoffs. 

But an injury of his own forced Washington to start Taylor Heinicke at quarterback for the playoffs. Heinicke’s career was over before Washington’s quarterback issues arose, and he was taking online classes at Old Dominion before he received the phone call. 

And while Heinicke played well for a fourth string quarterback, it’s clear this Cinderella story isn’t the long-term answer. Therefore, if Washington is to become a viable futures bet, they must find a replacement at quarterback. 

But who?

Do they package a deal and try to trade for Sam Darnold? Or better yet, do they call the Houston Texans and make them an offer the stubborn organization can’t refuse for Deshaun Watson? The Texans have been stoic in keeping Watson, but the right offer will sway them. 

Gardner Minshew of the Jacksonville Jaguars is another solid option. While Minshew Mania crashed in Jacksonville, he was more of a product of a team who hosted a fire sale on defense and practically tanked to win the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. 

True, Washington signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, literally at the time of this writing. And while he can put up numbers, Fitzpatrick is neither the answer nor is he a full-time starter at this point. 

The common denominator with the quarterbacks listed?

None have seen a brilliant NFL career. However, with Washington’s defense and skill position players set, along with the team bringing back Brandon Scherff on a tender, they can thrive in the system that this team is building. 

Speaking of the skill position unit, let’s talk about it. 

Washington’s Skill Position Players are Among the League’s Best

It begins with Terry McLaurin. McLaurin had a decent rookie season but broke out onto the scene in 2020 with 87 receptions, and 1,118 yards receiving. A former quarterback, Logan Thomas broke out at tight end, with 72 receptions, 670 yards, and 6 touchdowns. 

Keep in mind, these players were playing with a merry-go-round at quarterback. So, it’s not like they had Tom Brady throwing them the football. 

Antonio Gibson, who has drawn comparisons to Christian McCaffrey, logged 795 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions, and another 247 receiving yards. Gibson has become the featured back here. 

Washington also signed Curtis Samuel. And during the rough draft of today’s post, I wrote the following:

“If Washington can find a legitimate WR2, perhaps someone like Curtis Samuel from the Carolina Panthers, then odds are, their skill position players will be among the NFL’s elite. And if that’s the case, it makes even more sense to add nothing more than a gadget quarterback”.

Here we are, just a few days into free agency and the Football Team just signed Samuel. Also, earlier in the week and before the final draft, they also signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, which was mentioned in the above section. 

Fitzpatrick may be the gadget quarterback they need. But as I said, his age and timeshare status as a starter are two drawbacks. 

So, if Washington can swing a trade to land a marquee franchise quarterback, why not? Then, they got two decent options at quarterback. And it was two more decent options than they had in 2020. 

However, Washington has faced a rough three decades since their last Super Bowl Championship in 1991. And if you placed futures bets on them in the past, you may be leery to do so in 2021. Let’s look at their history, which is not on their side. 

Recent History of the Washington Football Team

Some of you may look at history when you bet, others may not. It depends on whether you believe it’s significant to the present day. Because you may, I thought it was best to at least discuss it in this section. 

From 1992 until 2020, Washington has won just three NFC East Championships, the fewest of its three sisters in that time span. From 1992 until 2001, you can also count the Arizona Cardinals as a fourth sister before they went to the NFC West in a geographic move during the 2002 NFL Realignment. 

In the past 29 seasons, they finished above .500 just nine times. They have also gone 3-7 in the NFL Playoffs, and never advanced past the Divisional Round in that time span. So, you have a right to be leery if you’re looking at the team’s recent history. 

They have also had 10 full-time head coaches over the past 29 seasons, where each coach lasted, on average, 2.9 seasons. And let’s not even get started on the never-ending revolving door at quarterback. 

Only the Cleveland Browns have had it worse regarding a quarterback situation during this time period. At least until they drafted Baker Mayfield with the first pick. 

Therefore, as favorable as things look for Washington, and as good of a bet as they look on the surface, history says something else. Whether you fit it into your betting strategy is up to you. But recent history says a lot for futures betting. 

Just look at how many Super Bowls Tom Brady has been to and won in the past 20 seasons, and it gives you a hint. But enough about recent history, let’s end this post by talking about the here and now, 2021, and look at Washington’s opponents. 

Washington Football Team’s Opponents for 2021

Starting with the NFC East, Washington looks like one of the stronger, if not the strongest sisters. Only the Dallas Cowboys can rival them on paper, and man, would that be a dandy to see Dallas and Washington duke it out for the title in December. 

You may not like it if you bet on either of the two teams, but it makes for prime entertainment. But since they won the NFC East, they also need to deal with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. Let’s pray Father Time catches Aaron Rodgers and the Hawks trade Russell Wilson.

Chances are, after the Dak Prescott deal, he’s not going to Dallas.


 

They also get to face the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. The latter poses as another chosen location for Wilson. Okay, so perhaps Washington’s facing Wilson, whether they want to. 

Then, they’re playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And don’t count out those New Orleans Saints. Just because Drew Brees isn’t there, Russell Wilson may be if Seattle trades him, even if the media’s saying otherwise. 

Washington’s facing Wilson one way or another, so keep that in mind. 


Also, if the 17th game is a thing for 2020, they will play a division winner from the AFC, with the Buffalo Bills being the most likely opponent. 

It’s a tough schedule, to say the least. Remember that before you bet.


 

Conclusion 

The Washington Football Team can join the ranks of the NFL’s elite for the first time in a while. They have outstanding skill position players and arguably the best defense in football. Plus, two of the game’s greatest defensive minds serve as the head coach (Rivera) and defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio). 

Washington’s history doesn’t bode well with them. And things had gotten bleaker since Daniel Snyder had taken control of the team. Their tough schedule doesn’t make things easier. 

What are your thoughts on Washington? Are they worth the risk in the betting realm? Or would you go with someone else in the NFC East?