Washington Football Team

2021 Record: 0-0

While it might still be strange to some to refer to the football team from Washington as the Washington Football Team, it is even stranger to refer to them as the reigning NFC East champs. But that is just what they are, after coming out on top in one of the ugliest division title races in recent memory. Washington won their regular-season finale over the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the NFC East with a 7-9 record, giving head coach Ron Rivera a division title in his first season with the team.

Their reward was a wild-card meeting with Tom Brady and the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which proved to be a much closer matchup than most expected. And thanks to last season's division title, that encouraging playoff performance, and an imposing, improving defense, NFL futures odds project Washington as the most likely challenger to the favored Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East title.

Well-traveled quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick now has the reins in Washington, the ninth different team he has been QB1 for at some point. None of those previous eight stints has resulted in a single postseason start for Fitzpatrick, so he will no doubt be hoping that this is the season that achievement gets checked off of his list.

If it does, a big reason for it will be the defense, which should make life tough for many an opposing quarterback throughout the season. In Chase Young and Montez Sweat, there are two top young pass-rushing talents, and defensive tackle Daron Payne is another young, productive piece of their front seven. Not only does Washington have the best defense in the NFC East, they have one of the best defenses in the NFL. As the old saying goes, defense wins championships, and if the offense is at least serviceable, Washington's defense could produce a second straight NFC title.

Washington Football Team 2021 Schedule

Times are subject to change. Game odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook and are updated as of Monday, September 6, 2021.

Sunday, September 26, 2021: at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, October 3, 2021: at Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, October 10, 2021: vs New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS

Sunday, October 17, 2021: vs Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS

Sunday, October 24, 2021: at Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, October 31, 2021: at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

BYE WEEK

Sunday, November 14, 2021: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, November 21, 2021: at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Monday, November 29, 2021: vs Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Sunday, December 5, 2021: at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, December 12, 2021: vs Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Sunday, December 19, 2021: at Philadelphia Eagles, TBD

Washington Football Team odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook and are updated as of Monday, September 6, 2021.