NFC East power rankings: How far are NY Giants from competing?

NFC East’s #3 team: Washington Football Team

After winning their way into the 2020 postseason by virtue of a Week 17 nail-biting victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Football Team had an ace up their sleeve to take the next step forward in 2021.

A little spritz of Fitzmagic was what the doctor ordered to pull it all together and make WFT a contender in the NFC.

Fast forward to Week 6 of the 2021 season, and the Washington Football team is sitting 2-3 with an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick and a mediocre defense.

This is all to say that expectations are not being met. Wins over the NY Giants and the Atlanta Falcons do not define a successful season by any stretch.

Taylor Heinicke was the story of last season, but the Old Dominion quarterback may be showing his colors as an average NFL signal caller. Antonio Gibson is elite at the running back position, but he alone can’t lift up a defense that has given up 29+ points in four of their five games so far.

Perhaps Heinicke can show up in big spots once more like he did against Tampa Bay in the 2020 postseason, going for over 300 yards through the air against a stout Bucs secondary. It’s Washington’s only chance of winning the division if the defense isn’t going to finish as a #2 unit in total yards once more in 2021.