Washington Football Team schedule and 2021 season predictions

Josh Allen and the Bills could very well be a good barometer of where the WFT is at this season. In fact, Buffalo’s trajectory is something that a defensive-minded Rivera envisions with his squad. Unfortunately, Washington is a year away from being able to go into a hostile environment in Buffalo and coming out on top.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Bills 27, Washington 17

Week 4 — @ Atlanta Falcons

Washington is a different mold of team in the modern NFL. It’s going to rely on a dynamic rushing attack and dominant defense in hopes of repeating as NFC East champs. Everything that WFT has done this offseason is building to that. It’s just not a great matchup for a Falcons team that wants the ball in the hands of quarterback Matt Ryan and Co.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 27, Falcons 20

Week 5 — vs. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are going to be a vastly different team without Drew Brees in the mix. There’s going to be more of a reliance on the running attack with Alvin Kamara and a defense that has some holes. This should work to Washington’s advantage come Week 5. After all, Rivera’s defense is more than likely set to finish in the top 10 stopping the run in 2021.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 24, Saints 20

Week 6 — vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Upset alert. Washington has the talent at all three tiers on defense to be able to pull off what would be one of the biggest statements of the 2021 NFL season. Primarily, its ability to go sideline-to-sideline should help against the likes of Tyreek Hill. Playing ball control offense against a Chiefs defense that gave up nearly 2,000 rushing yards a season ago will also help matters in this regard.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 24, Chiefs 21

Week 7 — @ Green Bay Packers

It’s all about Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay right now. If he’s not back with the Packers, they are going to be in all sorts of trouble with a green Jordan Love under center. At issue here for Washington is the home-field advantage Lambeau brings to the table coupled with a slightly above-average offense led by Fitzpatrick. It will lead to yet another road loss against a stout Packers defense.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Packers 23, Washington 20

Week 8 — @ Denver Broncos

Whether it’s Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock under center for the Broncos in 2021, we’re looking at some low-scoring affairs in the Mile High City. When you take into account Washington’s stifling defense, this is magnified further. In what should be a hotly contested affair, I am going with the home team to do just enough to come out on top.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Broncos 20, Washington 17

WEEK 9 BYE

Week 10 — vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A rematch of last season’s NFC wild-card matchup, Washington surprised the masses by playing it close against Tom Brady and Co. back in January. It lost by the score of 23-21 with Taylor Heinicke getting the start. While Fitzpatrick is an immediate upgrade, I just don’t see WFT coming out on top against the defending champs.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Buccaneers 28, Washington 17

Week 11 — @ Carolina Panthers

The Rivera revenge game. Could it end in sweet victory for Washington? I am not too sure. The Panthers seemingly match up well against WFT’s collection of elite defensive talent. Christian McCaffrey’s ability to get out on the boundary coupled with the ascension of wide receiver D.J. Moore lead me to believe Rivera will be licking his wounds following this Week 11 matchup.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Panthers 23, Washington 19

Week 12 — vs. Seattle Seahawks

Washington will be able to score points against a Seahawks defense that lacks a ton of talent outside of Jamal Adams. The only question here is whether its defense will be able to protect the boundaries against D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. In what should be a close and unusually high-scoring affair for Washington, I am going with Rivera and Co. to hold court at home.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 27, Seahawks 24

Week 13 — @ Las Vegas Raiders

There’s every reason to believe Allegiant Stadium will be rocking in Vegas this fall after fans were not permitted to attend games in the Raiders’ debut 2020 campaign in Sin City. That’s going to play a huge difference, especially in games against evenly matched opponents. I expect Derek Carr and Co. to do just enough to take advantage of that.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Raiders 23, Washington 20 

Week 14 — vs. Dallas Cowboys

Washington posted a disastrous 3-5 record at home a season ago. It didn’t impact the eventual division winner due to the NFC East being so poor, but this must change for Rivera and Co. come September. The good news? Washington has the talent in the trenches to enforce its will at home against a Cowboys team that has struggled in that regard recently. It should lead to a narrow home win.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 24, Cowboys 23

Week 15 — @ Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia just does not match up well against Washington. Sure Jalen Hurts is more mobile than Carson Wentz, but a defensive line led by Chase Young and Montez Sweat will have the young quarterback running for the hills. Meanwhile, Washington’s running back group should have a field day against an Eagles defense that finished in the bottom 10 stopping the run a season ago.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 17, Eagles 13

Week 16 — @ Dallas Cowboys

In their two games a season ago, Washington outscored Dallas by a combined margin of 66-19 in sweeping the division rival. Unfortunately, we’re not going to see a similar Cowboys team in 2021. Dak Prescott returns healthy. The defense should be improved under coordinator Dan Quinn. At the very least, it will lead to Dallas holding serve at home.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Cowboys 27, Washington 23

Week 17 — vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Noticing a theme? I am in no way sold on the Eagles being able to match up with Washington in 2021. Primarily, the inability to stop the run and issues in the defensive secondary could be the Eagles’ biggest Achilles’ heel. Washington is also in a position to take advantage of that. It will lead to a season sweep of the Eagles.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Washington 23, Eagles 14

Week 18 — @ New York Giants

Noticing another theme? Home-field advantage will play a major role in NFC East division battles now that teams are going to welcome fans back in attendance at 100% capacity. Washington has won just two games against the Giants in New Jersey since the 2011 season.

Washington Football Team schedule prediction: Giants 20, Washington 16

Washington Football Team projected record: 10-7