When the season started, I remember saying on my podcast that I thought the Washington Football Team had the potential to play meaningful games in December. Granted, I never thought that would be because the NFC East winner would qualify for the playoffs with six victories, but every week brings us closer to that reality.
So here we are with yet another, on paper, winnable game. This time it’s against the Cincinnati Bengals. If this is the week Washington puts it all together, whose stock is headed in the right direction?
Well, dear readers, here’s the weekly stock report.
QB Alex Smith:
Yes, this one is easy. Say what you want, and some people will, but Smith hasn’t just played well; he’s played lights out. Go back and look at any metric you want. Look at the lines from his first nine games in Washington back in 2018. His highest output, yardage wise? 305 in a loss to New Orleans. Most points in a game? 31 against Green Bay. His 69% completion rate is second only to the Green Bay and Tampa Bay games in 2018.
Two games do not make a season, but the eye test should reveal everything you need to know. Alex Smith has run the offense better than Dwayne Haskins or Kyle Allen.
Can he do it again?
Is he the answer at QB for the next couple of seasons?
Look around the league where Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees have proved you can play at a high level into your late 30’s and 40’s.
Cincinnati’s been toasted through the air. Only Seattle has given up more yards, and they don’t pressure the opposing team’s quarterback all that well. If Washington’s offensive line holds up, Smith could be in line for another 300-yard day.
DE Chase Young:
A surprise?
Maybe a little. His roughing penalty led to the game-winning field goal attempt, but he faced the music and took ownership after the game.
Since Week 2, Young has seemingly been double and triple-teamed on almost every snap. It’s taken a lot of heat off Montez Sweat on the other side of the defensive line. Sweat has responded with five sacks.
This week, you have to figure Young wants a rebound game and a chance to make up for last week’s gaffe. The feeling here is that he gets it and has a big game.
WR Cam Simms:
I’ve been high on Simms since he made the practice squad as an undrafted free agent. I thought all he needed was a chance to get on the field and (another Alex Smith benefit) and behold, a veteran quarterback has figured out a way to get him the ball.
Simms has locked down the Z receiver spot for the rest of the season. If he can become a guy the other team starts to think about pre-snap, imagine how much that can open things up for star wideout Terry McLaurin?