The Washington Football Team scrapped through a daunting schedule, injuries at quarterback, and a first-year head coach battling cancer, to win the NFC East division title. They did so with a 7-9 record on the heels of a bad year for the entire division.
Drawing the NFC West and AFC North — two of the best divisions in the league — proved to be the biggest hurdle for Washington in 2020. Thanks to the scheduling rotation and a newly-proposed 17th game, Washington could face an even bigger challenge in 2021.
Washington will be the only team in the league that is slated to face all four teams in this weekend’s Conference Championship Games. Yes, they’ll have to play the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills.
Aside from their six NFC East games, Washington, like its division rivals, the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants, will face the NFC South and AFC West next season.
The NFC South produced two playoff teams in 2020 — the Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers beat Washington in the wild card round and the Saints in the divisional round to advance to Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. Washington hosts both teams while playing at Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.
Unlike its NFC East rivals, Washington will the Packers in 2021. The Packers earned home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and will host the Championship Game against the Bucs. Washington draws the Packers as one of their two intra-conference opponents based on finishing first in their division — Washington will also face the NFC West champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
With the draw of the AFC West, Washington hosts the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champs, and the team that Patrick Mahomes quarterbacks. Washington will also be at home against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers while visiting the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.
Additionally, the NFL proposed a 17-game schedule starting next season. With an approval by the Players Association, the 17th game would be against a same-place AFC Conference team.
In 2021, the NFC East champion will draw the AFC East champion under the added game schedule. That means, Washington will face Josh Allen and the Bills.
Washington enters this offseason looking to build off their division title in 2021. They’ll have to do so going throug a tough slate, that will include all four the of the remaining teams vying for a Super Bowl title this year.
