NFL Power Rankings 2021: Where does Washington rank/pick in next year’s draft?

Washington Power Rankings!

The Washington Football Team entered the season with high hopes and expectations of repeating as the NFC East champions. They entered Week 7 with a 2-4 record after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 31-13 at home. On Sunday they visited the Packers in Green Bay and lost 24-10.

Washington’s defense played better this week, but it wasn’t enough to contain Aaron Rodgers. The offense had a lot of issues that showed up at Lambeau Field. They were able to move the ball, but were stopped 4 times in the red zone. There were a lot of issues with ball security, resulting in 2 turnovers. Even special teams got involved when Chris Blewitt’s first NFL FG attempt was blocked.

Washington now has one more road game against the Denver Broncos before they hit the bye in Week 9. The team is 2-5 now, but a 2-6 record would make the displeasure in the fanbase a lot louder. And that’s not including the distractions coming from off the field…

High: 19

Low: 28

Average: 25.6

#19

Athlon Sports(Fischer)

Despite losing by two TDs, you actually saw a few positives in that defensive effort against the Packers for maybe the first time all year. That might be the silver lining of such a game given how the red zone issues on the other side of the ball were even more concerning. Last Week: 21

#23

Fansided(Baxter)

Last season’s second-ranked defense had taken a beating in its first six outings this year. And now Washington was in Green Bay to take on Aaron Rodgers and the first-place Packers. Ron Rivera’s club ran for 195 yards – 95 of those via quarterback Taylor Heinicke – and actually outgained the Pack, 430-304, in total yards. But the young signal-caller was sacked four times and turned over the ball twice. And fourth down proved to be a nightmare. Last week: 24

New York Post – Last Week: 25

#24

Yahoo Sports(Davis)

Since start of 2020 season, they have five wins against NFC East teams and four against everybody else. Bummer WFT won’t play another divisional game until Week 14. Last Week: 25

The Lines

Five times the Football Team got inside the Green Bay 30-yard line on Sunday, and five times they came away with nothing. Taylor Heinicke rushed for a game-high 90 yards and led an offense that churned out 404 yards, but his flop just short of the goal line was a symbol of Washington’s futility this season. Last Week: 24

Oddshark – Last Week: 24

#25

Sportsnaut(Johnson)

Another Sunday with the same result for the Washington Football Team. Jack Del Rio’s defense can’t defend the pass to save its life, even on drives when the pass rush is creating some pressure. While the offense isn’t perfect, Washington’s defense is almost entirely responsible for the placement in our Week 8 NFL power rankings. Last Week: 24

#26

ESPN

Prediction we missed: The defense line would be excellent

Oops. Washington ranked second in yards and fourth in points last season and, while it was facing a far more difficult schedule, it also had a young line considered one of the best in the NFL. There was reason to believe the unit would still at least be near the top 10. Instead, it’s last in points allowed and 29th in yards. Washington played a strong game vs. Green Bay and the line has started to look much better. The issues also haven’t just stemmed from facing better quarterbacks; a lack of adherence to details — leading to poor rushes or blown coverage — has undermined the team. — John Keim Last Week: 25

Yahoo Sports(Schwab)

Washington actually out-gained the Packers 430-304. They had four straight possessions in the Green Bay red zone and somehow got only three points out of that. That’s how bad teams lose games. Last Week: 25

Sporting News(Iyer)

WFT is right there with the Eagles as an underachieving team, especially with the loaded defense disappointing. The offense is doing its best while in makeshift mode with Taylor Heinicke given all the injuries. Last Week: 26

#27

NFL.com(Hanzus)

The Football Team outgained the Packers by 126 yards (430-304) and played — by far — their best defensive game of the season … yet still found themselves on the wrong side of a double-digit defeat thanks to two crushing failures in the third quarter. Taylor Heinicke’s overturned TD was highway robbery that should be addressed by the Common Sense Police (or, at least the Competition Committee in the offseason), but there was no excuse for the back-to-back fourth-down failures near the goal line that spelled doom at Lambeau Field. There were plenty of positives to take out of Sunday, but there hasn’t been a more frustrating loss this season for Ron Rivera’s team. Last Week: 26

Washington Post(Maske)

Actually score the touchdown first, then do the Lambeau leap. It seems simple enough. But nothing is ever that simple with this once-again-irrelevant team. Last Week: 26

CBS Sports(Prisco)

It’s becoming so obvious that they can’t win games without a franchise quarterback. But that won’t come anytime this season. The playoffs are done. Last week: 26

Pro Football Network

The Washington Football Team simply doesn’t have the juice on offense to compete. Taylor Heinicke is an outstanding story, but he’s a bottom-tier quarterback in the NFL. However, against the Green Bay Packers, he led the team in rushing, which is the one thing he brings as a quarterback that can make a difference.

Sadly, it’s not enough. It’s unfortunate because a defense that has struggled mightily against expectation in 2021 had a solid day against the Packers. I’m not sure what the future holds in Washington on the QB front, but they have to make a serious play at a free agent this offseason if they want to take advantage of the defensive talent they possess. Last Week: 25

Bleacher Report

After losing yet again in Week 7 (the team’s third straight defeat and fourth in five weeks), Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen wasn’t in an excuse-making mood.

“We’re such a better football team than what our record says,” Allen told reporters. “But at the end of the day, you can only go by what we’ve done. We’re what, 2-5? That’s just who we are. Losing teams find ways to lose games, and winning teams find ways to win games.”

Allen is spot-on about that last part. On Sunday, Washington amassed 430 yards of total offense—126 more than the Packers. But facing one of the worst red-zone defenses in the league, the team made four trips inside of the Green Bay 20-yard line and came away with a touchdown exactly zero times.

The WFT offense continues to come up short in pressure situations. A defense that was supposed to be a strength ranks dead last in points allowed per game (30).

Put it all together, and you have arguably the NFC’s most disappointing team in 2021. And there’s little reason to think a turnaround is coming anytime soon.

Last Week: 27

Touchdown Wire(Wojton)

Washington actually outgained the Packers offense, 430 to 304 in Week 7. Too bad it’s the final score that counts, and Green Bay held the 24-10 edge there. Washington’s red zone woes on offense were the problem. Last Week: 25

Betting Pros

The defense looked better at least. I guess. Last Week: 26

The Ringer(Kelly) – Last Week: 26

NumberFire – Last week: 25

#28

Pro Football Talk(Florio)

Who else’s jersey can they quickly retire? Last Week: 26

Are we ready to start looking at the draft order in Week 8? Why yes, yes we are. The Washington Football Team’s current record would “earn” them the 9th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. They are one of 5 teams that only have 2 wins. Four more teams only have 1 win, and the lowly Lions are at the top of the pack with 0 wins. Washington still has 10 games to go so there is a lot of season left, but it’s looking like they will have a high pick next year unless things turn around quickly.