Talk Commanders

The Washington Football Team gets another bite at the Big Apple. Okay, it is a “Small Apple” these days as the 1-7 New York Giants visit FedEx Field against the 2-5 WFT. Yes, the Giants only win this season was over Washington on a failed 2-point conversion with time running out. This is a chance for a Washington team to show they are learning together and progressing with Kyle Allen who gets his fourth start for the Burgundy and Gold. For the first time this season, Washington will have some fans in the stands numbering nearly 3,000 per Prince Georges County waivers after the State of Maryland last month signed-off on allowing up to 10% of capacity. Previously it was a “family only” crowd with a few hundred in attendance.

The Dallas/Washington rivalry goes back to the days when George Allen was the football coach for Washington and Tom Landry wore his fedora on the sidelines for Dallas.  The first game took place in Griffith Stadium on October 9, 1960 and was won by Washington. Over the years a rivalry was created with some of the greatest finishes in NFL history. But more recently, the Washington Football Team has not been a great team, and the rivalry faded. Maybe the old days of Diron Talbert who was from Texas and hated the Cowboys can return.

We are back to a re-do on last week with Kyle Allen against the winless Giants of New York who are favored today on the Vegas line. The Burgundy and Gold (1-4) face their division rivals in a game of direction for both franchises. In the NFC (L)East, a division that is there for the taking, with Dallas (2-3) and Philadelphia (1-3-1) as the teams ahead of the WFT, this game is big in the scope of one week. Take that for what it is in the sixth game of the season. Head coach Ron Rivera is sticking with Allen at quarterback with Alex Smith as the backup again today.

This week two of the NFL season, the Washington Football Team takes on the Arizona Cardinals with a chance to build on last week’s strong finish. The Washington team put together a formula of old-fashioned smash mouth football led by the defense that put the offense in great situations to tally up the touchdowns.

If Coach Rivera’s team builds on that same approach, and can contain Arizona’s mobile quarterback, Kyler Murray, with the same pass rush that had Eagles QB Carson Wentz entangled in multiple sacks, then it should be enough to disrupt what the Cardinals are trying to do in today’s game.

Dwayne Haskins completed 54.8% of his passes last week for 178 yards and one TD. The hope is that he can build on that with a stronger running game that can open up his passing game where he won’t feel forced to thread the needle on passes and can find some wide open receivers.

Game time today is 4pm on FOX.