Division games matter in the NFL, right? Well, that’s what the league has tried to sell to fans for years in large to drum up interest surrounding natural rivalries. Rivalries are part of why the NFL has become religion more than sport and entertainment for most of America.
The league has even slotted all divisional games in the final week of the NFL schedule, as teams jockey for position for the playoffs. However, the league has seemingly gone a step further for the Washington Football Team.
Washington will not only close the regular season with divisional game in the final week this year. Their last five games of the 2021 season will be against divisional rivals.
Starting in Week 14, Washington will go through an NFC East gauntlet so to speak. They’ll play host the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 12. Then Week 15 they’ll be at the Philadelphia Eagles. Week 16 they’ll see the Cowboys for the second time. That matchup will be at Jerry’s World on Sunday Night Football.
Washington then sees the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Jan. 2 in Week 17 before closing out the season at the New York Giants in Week 18.
It will be the first time since 1970 Washington has played that many consecutive games against division opponents. But even then it was not to close out the schedule.
Playing five straight division games is rare and odd. Throw in the fact the league is expanding to 17-game schedules this year, it’s perplexing Washington will only play one game against the NFC East through their first 12 games.
The only divisional game before Week 14 is in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football at home against the Giants.
The NFC East is expected to be a tight race. One way or another, Washington will play a huge factor in determining which team wins the division. Two games against the Cowboys and Eagles each sets up for the outlook of the division to be played out through Ron Rivera’s team.
In the meantime, Washington will go through the tough AFC West and NFC South which includes games against both teams from the Super Bowl — Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They’ll also face the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and the Las Vegas Raiders. Each of which are considered tough opponents.
That could present a tough start to the season. Wherever Washington is standing through the first 12 games, they’ll have a chance to stagger back into the playoff picture or strengthen their standing with five straight division games to end the year.
