What do you get when you add the NFL Coach of the Year + NFL Comeback Player of the Year? I went ahead and saved you the math, you get the WORST 'Football Team' (literally) to ever make the playoffs!
The Washington Football Team is a historical squad this year, not because they were a winning team, but because they became the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record. Generally, a team who finished the season at 7-9 would be viewed as a disappointment, a failure, but many view this team as a success for overcoming multiple obstacles to finish atop the NFC East.
Ron Rivera - Diagnosed with lymph node cancer on August 20th, somehow found a way to undergo a full chemotherapy regimen during the season while missing zero games on field. To top this off, Rivera, in his first season in Washington, will likely add the NFL Coach of the Year award to his trophy case this offseason.
Alex Smith - The soon-to-be NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Smith did not see any action until week 5, filling in for an injured Kyle Allen, and then later replacing Dwyane Haskins after week 7. While his statistics are mediocre at best (66.7% comp, 6 TD's, 8 INT's, 1582 yards passing), he did lead Washington to a 5-2 record and a playoff berth. Usually these poor stats wouldn't win an award for on field success, but in Smith's case, the fact that he even took the field again after nearly losing his leg in 2018 makes him a runaway winner.
Regardless of these impending future awards, it doesn't change the fact that this year's WFT is still the worst in playoff history (with the NFL's worst offense), representing the worst division in NFL history. Today, in this era of participation awards, Washington Football Team would no doubt qualify for the biggest participation award of them all, unfortunately for them, it won't help them get the biggest trophy of them all, the Lombardi Trophy.
On field, they'll host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Saturday night, getting 8 points (at Fanduel Sportsbook), as the largest home underdog in the playoffs since the 2011 Denver Broncos (+8.5) who, led by Tim Tebow, defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime 29-23. You could back them if you'd like, just make sure you know that you're backing the worst playoff team in NFL history, WFT!
@BeatinTheBookie
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