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The Washington Football Team had an atrocious performance in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. It was ugly from start to finish for Washington as they struggled to muster any measure of success.
By the end of the first quarter they were trailing 21-0, and it didn't get much better thereafter. Ron Rivera's group ended up getting completely annihilated, losing 56-14 to its NFC East rival. It was simply a bad performance all-around; the offense couldn't get anything going and the defense could not stop the electric Cowboys offense.
That being said, here are three takeaways from the Washington Football Team's Week 16 debacle against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Washington Week 16 Takeaways
Washington needs to improve the offense
While this atrocious performance showcased multiple holes for Washington, offense was the main issue. Washington has a talented defense that can be a top unit in the NFL when fully healthy. The offense, on the other hand, lacks the necessary talent to be a great unit.
Washington rushed for 85 yards and zero touchdowns on 20 carries against the Cowboys. The passing game was a disaster, as their two quarterbacks combined for 172 yards along with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Kyle Allen was more efficient than Taylor Heinicke when he entered the game, but the offense still needs to be vastly improved.
They have a young star in Terry McLaurin at wide receiver and a solid young running back in Antonio Gibson. Other than that, Washington doesn't have elite playmakers. The offensive line needs to be retooled, too, which could lead to a much-improved offense.
They are still not ready to be a contender
Last season, Washington won the NFC East in a division where no team was above .500. Washington then almost took down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Many expected them to build upon their success last season, but they have done the opposite. Washington has faced injuries to key players, including a season-ending injury to Chase Young, but every team this season has dealt with similar issues.
The landscape of the NFL has drastically changed this season due to COVID-19 and how rapidly it is spreading across the league and world at large. With the season wrapping up, Washington has been a disappointment, especially defensively. While the Cowboys have a great offense, a talented defense should not allow a team to march down the field every drive.
Until Rivera's team adds talent and works as a cohesive unit, they will not be a contender or even make it to the postseason.
Washington needs to find their franchise quarterback
Although Washington needs to improve in multiple areas, the most important task is finding their franchise quarterback. Having a good quarterback is essential in the modern NFL, as almost all of the contenders have an elite signal-caller. This was evident against the Cowboys as Heinicke struggled while Dak Prescott lit up Washington's defense.
Finding a franchise quarterback can be difficult because some top draft prospects don't pan out. Another route Washington could look into is trading for a quarterback, like Deshaun Watson.
Watson has not played this season due to off-the-field issues—tens of Houston-area massage therapists have accused him of sexual misconduct—but is a dynamic young quarterback. It would be difficult to give up assets to trade for him given his legal trouble, but Watson would be a shrewd target for Washington if he that at some point gets put behind him. Watson is currently on the Houston Texans, who are in the midst of a rebuild, and he was rumored to be unhappy with the organization before his legal battles arose.
Washington should be active in the quarterback market in the offseason, and it will be interesting to see how they perform next season.
