The Washington Football Team had to sweat it out, but nevertheless won their first NFC East division title since the 2015 season with a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Ironically, the 2015 division-clinching win came against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The game was surprisingly close after Washington came out spirited and built a quick 10-0 lead. The offense scored their first opening-drive possession of the season in the most important game of the campaign.
#WashingtonFootball saves their first opening drive TD of the season for their most important game. Great start to get this going. 15 play-94 yard drive. Washington leads 7-0.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) January 4, 2021
As they have done all season, Washington gritted out another down to the wire contest.
Coach Ron Rivera was proud of the way his young upstart football team played in securing the victory and mentioned what the win meant to him while speaking with media after the contest.
“This one is special just because of how hard it was and how tough everything has been on the guys and the organization,” Rivera said. “It’s a great group of young men in there, and we’re trying to do things the right way. It’s really a cool thing to come out and get the division. It’s kind of a double-edged sword though because obviously, we play Saturday night against Tampa Bay. We got the first-place schedule next year, which is not going to be easy. I think what it does is it shows these guys that if they work hard and do things the right way, they give themselves a chance. We’ve got a young group of guys and a lot of young guys that have played meaningful football. This is cool for them. This really is.”
The victory gives Washington its 16th overall NFC East division title and will mark the 25th time competing in postseason play and 43rd playoff game overall.
The 2020 NFC East champs will face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and host its first home playoff game since playing the Green Bay Packers at FedExField in the NFC Wild Card Round on January 10, 2016.
Washington improved its record to 9-4 in regular-season finale contests with a chance to clinch a playoff berth since 1970. Washington is now 4-0 against Philadelphia in those contests.
Since struggling to win a division contest last season under then-coach Jay Gruden, Washington swept to division opponents this season (Dallas and Philadelphia) for the first time since the 2012 season.
The Week 17 win improved Washington’s record against the Eagles to 88-79-5.
Other notable stats for the Washington Football Team as the regular season comes to an end:
The seasons’ success was defined by the defense and against the Eagles, many of the teams’ young stars stood out.
On the season, the defense posted 48 sacks on the season which is the eighth-most in a single season in franchise history.
Safety Kamren Curl notched three solo tackles and an interception and became the first rookie for Washington to record back-to-back interceptions since Carlos Rogers did so in Games 11-12 of the 2005 season.
Defensive end Chase Young recorded two solo tackles, a sack for a loss of five yards, three quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. The Pro Bowl selection is one of nine rookies in NFL history to force four fumbles and recover two fumbles in a season. Young played in seven games with at least one full sack, which is the most in a rookie season in franchise history.
The Ohio State standout registered three games with a sack and a fumble recovery this season, the most games doing so in a season for a Washington player in franchise history. He is the second rookie in franchise history to post at least 7.0 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, joining Brian Orakpo [2009]. Young is the only rookie in the league this season to reach that mark. He also amassed four forced fumbles that tied for the most for a Washington rookie. His three fumble recoveries are the most for a rookie season in franchise history.
Not to be outdone, defensive end Montez Sweat notched five tackles [four solo], three quarterback hits, and a sack for a loss of 13 yards. His 16 sacks are the third-most through a player’s first two seasons in Washington.
Sweat’s 33 quarterback hits passed Brian Orakpo for the most through a player’s first two seasons in Washington.
On offense, Washington was led most of the season by second-year standout wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The former Ohio State product produced seven receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles. In doing so, he passed 2,000 career receiving yards, joining Gary Clark as the only two players in Washington franchise history to accomplish the feat through their first two seasons.
McLaurin, Gary Clark, and Charlie Brown are the only three receivers in Washington history to record 2,000 receiving yards through 29-career games. He has recorded 10 games with 7-plus receptions, the most through a player’s first two seasons in franchise history. The second-year player is the first player in franchise history to have 80+ receptions with 1,000 receiving yards 25 years old or younger. He is one of two players this season to achieve that mark [D.K. Metcalf, Seattle].
Washington posted two running backs with 950-plus scrimmage yards this season with Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. It is Washington’s third time having two running backs achieve the feat in the same season and the first time since Joe Washington and John Riggins did so in 1983.
Gibson tallied 19 rushes for 75 yards and one reception for six yards against Philadelphia and joined Alfred Morris as the only two rookies in franchise history to surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns.
McKissic caught five passes for 30 yards. His 80 receptions are second-most in a season for a Washington running back in franchise history.
Tight end Logan Thomas was the surprise find on the offense this season and continued his stellar campaign with three receptions for 37 yards and one touchdown. The former Virginia Tech standout is the third tight end in franchise history to post 70+ receptions, 650+ receiving yards, and 5+ receiving touchdowns in a season, joining Jordan Reed [2015] and Chris Cooley [2005]. On the season, Thomas posted 72 receptions, 670 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns.
