Few people gave the Washington Football Team much of a chance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Football Team’s exciting 29-19 victory at Fed Ex Field will go down as one of this year-to-date’s biggest upsets.
Washington played their most complete game of football this season. They deserved every drop of the win, and outplayed the defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers for most of the game.
Salting It Away
The final 19-play drive was a thing of beauty. Game on the line – not wanting to give Tom Brady the chance he needs – Washington log their longest drive in three NFL seasons. It also tied the longest drive of the season for anyone in the NFL this year.
Big Game For Gibson
Antonio Gibson scored both of Washington’s second half touchdowns. He was integral on both of the drives as well. Not only did he log some tough yards, but he also had a key block on a passing play.
His effort on his first touchdown run was remarkable – same goes for linemen Erick Flowers and Wes Schweitzer – as the three of them just bossed Gibson over the line.
The young running back finished with 63 yards on 23 carries, and the two touchdowns. His numbers don’t do his game justice – he was clutch when they needed it.
Heinicke Rebounds
Taylor Heinicke may have struggled of late, but he was rock solid against Tampa. It was his best game since Atlanta. He only had one touchdown, but he completed more than 80% of his passes and protected the ball.
The offense was just simply a lot better today. They scored on six of eight drives.
First Half Improvement
Even though they failed to capitalize on some chances, Washington played their best first half of football in quite some time. In fact, it was the first time in five years, that Washington had scored on their first four possessions of a game.
It gave them a 16-6 half-time lead, and put them in a good position to earn an upset win.
Chase’d
A solid win was tempered by the loss of Chase Young. He left the game with a knee injury that looked to be a possible ACL tear. He left the field with help after refusing the cart, but he was in obvious discomfort. It’s likely the end, to what was a disappointing sophomore season for the phenom.
Get well soon young man.
Defense Much Improved
Despite losing Young in the first half, the WFT defense had arguably it’s best game of 2021 as well. They held a prolific Tampa offense to just 273 yards, and intercepted Brady twice. Washington turned those turnovers into 10 points.
Up next is Head Coach Ron Rivera’s former gig – the Carolina Panthers.
Washington finished last season winning five of their last seven.
Can they do it again?
The chances seem a lot more likely after this win, than they did before it.
