A Week 18 stock report, think about that? The first Week 18 report since 2015, one of only five this century and one of only seven since the Washington Football Team last walked off the field with the Lombardi Trophy (1991, in case you forgot).
This will be the third time the Burgundy and Gold have faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the postseason. In 1999, the then “Redskins” lost 14-13 in a rainstorm. In 2005, they won 17-10 at Fed Ex Field. To pull off an upset this weekend, Washington needs its stars to step up.
The following players have a chance to do so with their stock on the rise.
DE Chase Young
A shocker. If Young doesn’t win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, someone needs to check and see if Russia hacked the American vote.
Young has become the leader of a unit that is becoming elite. The Philadelphia Eagles game was just another day at the office for the former Ohio State All-American who amassed two tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, one tackle for a loss, and three quarterback hits. Young is such a force, he elevates the play of the rest of his linemates including the guy on the other edge of the line.
DE Montez Sweat
You can’t double team both Sweat and Young and that’s lead to Sweat’s breakout this year. To be certain, Sweat would have been a star regardless, but Young has accelerated the second-year players’ growth. Sweat totaled five tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss, three quarterback hits, and forced a fumble against the Eagles. If the pair can put pressure on Tom Brady this weekend, Washington will have a chance to win the game.
WR Terry McLaurin
Perhaps we will one day find out if McLaurin didn’t have a high ankle sprain. Maybe it was a low ankle instead. Regardless, he shouldn’t have been able to play Sunday but he did and he was effective.
He won most of his matchups and caught almost everything thrown to him for 7 catches on 8 targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. The game plan seemed to call for a lot of running and short passes. McLaurin did everything asked of him. Now the competition gets tougher as Tampa Bay comes to town.