Week 3 of the NFL season is already upon us. Any thoughts of COVID-19 disrupting the season have dissipated and instead been met with optimism for a full 2020 campaign.
Speaking of optimism, the Washington Football team won their season opener over the divisional foe, Philadelphia Eagles. However, last week was a different story as the Arizona Cardinals soundly defeated the young football team under first-year coach Ron Rivera on the road.
Most of the week, fans have taken to the airways and social media to ask what is wrong with the offense and specifically quarterback Dwayne Haskins?
The second-year QB has shown why he was selected in last year’s draft with the 15th overall pick. The former Ohio State product has also had his share of missed attempts on errant throws. Those struggles have some fans uneasy about the long term prognosis for Haskins. Still, in fairness to the young signal-caller, he’s only started less than ten games on his career and is playing under his third head coach and second offensive coordinator in less than a year.
Washington’s offense as a whole has to play better, or they will squander potentially strong defensive efforts.
Washington will now travel to Cleveland to face a Browns offense that has a chance to be potent. Cleveland possesses a two-headed monster in the backfield in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The offense also features Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry on the outsides. As is the case with Washington, Cleveland produces as their QB Baker Mayfield does.
Washington’s defense will have their hands full if the team is to recover from last week’s defeat and raise their record to 2-1 on the season.
In the team’s last contest on October 2, 2016, Washington defeated the Browns 31-20.
Washington is 4-1 in their last five road games against Cleveland, dating back to 1975.
What would a win over the Browns do for the Washington Football Team from a statistical and historical standpoint?
A win would give Washington a four-game winning streak over the AFC North team. Washington has won each of the last three meetings against the Browns (2008, 2012, and 2016).
A victory over the Browns gets Washington their first 2-1 start since 2018.
A win improves Washington’s overall record against the Browns to 13-33-1.
A “W” raises Washington’s Week 3 record to 42-40-1.
A win would keep Washington in first place in the NFC East division for a third straight week.
Finally, a victorious outcome for Washington would be the first road win under Rivera.