Saturday, November 21, 2020

Washington Football Team Week 11 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Washington Football Team rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 29.2 (29th)
  • Best ranking: 29th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 30th (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a Week 11 roundup for Washington in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 29

They played well offensively (464 yards and 34 first downs) but wasted too many opportunities against the Lions. Washington drove inside the Detroit 40 on four separate occasions in the first half but had just one field goal to show for it. Chase Young's roughing the passer penalty with 12 seconds left cost them a shot at overtime. They're still not out of it in the NFC East. Washington has a 14.9 percent chance to win the division.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 30

Alex Smith made some nice plays in his first start last week. The defense let them down against the Lions.

USA Today -- Rank: 29

Sunday provided pretty solid proof that QB Alex Smith isn't just an appreciated heartwarming story in 2020, but a man who can still play at a high level. The next benchmark will be getting his first win since 2018 -- perhaps Sunday against Cincinnati.

ESPN -- Rank: 29

What would they take back: Their stance on Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Washington was devoted to Haskins because of his talent and how he finished the 2019 campaign; he also was the team owner's selection in the previous draft. The incoming staff felt it could coax more from Haskins by challenging and supporting him, only to sour on him after 11 weeks and four starts. They were right to move on from his play, but they failed to pick up better backup options in the offseason. They needed to have Haskins compete against stiff competition, they but passed over other quarterbacks atop the draft to take Chase Young. Alex Smith is showing what a good quarterback can do in this offense, but it would have been nice to test Haskins earlier against better personnel. -- John Keim

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

Alex Smith is more than just a feel-good story now; he's back to being a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL, and he nearly had his Disney ending on Sunday in Detroit. Smith set career highs in completions (38) and passing yards (390), leading Washington back from a 21-point deficit in the second half. Matt Prater's 59-yard field goal at the gun stopped the screenplay in its tracks, but Smith has brought stability to the quarterback position for Ron Rivera. Don't expect to hear Dwayne Haskins' name uttered again this season unless Smith goes down with an injury. Even then, don't be so sure Haskins finds a way out of the dog house.

Previous update: Washington Football Team Week 10 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

More Washington Football Team pages:

More of our content: