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WTOP Sports’ bold predictions for WFT’s 2021 season

Rob Woodfork | rwoodfork@wtop.com

September 10, 2021, 8:48 AM

The Washington Football Team’s 2021 season is perhaps the most anticipated over the better part of a decade. There’s excitement over “Fitzmagic,” the young weapons he has at his disposal like Terry McLaurin and newcomer Curtis Samuel and a defense expected to be the most ferocious unit in the NFL.

But will the Burgundy and Gold live up to the hype? The WTOP Sports team is on record with bold predictions for how Washington’s 2021 season will shake out.

 

<h4>Q: What will Washington&#8217;s record be in 2021? Will they make the playoffs?</h4> <p><strong>Dave Johnson: </strong>10-7, 1 playoff win</p> <p><strong>Rob Woodfork:</strong> 8-9, no playoffs. The best case scenario is 11 wins and another division title, but when was the last time Washington had everything fall into place like that, especially the year after a division title? (The answer is 1983.)</p> <p><strong>George Wallace</strong>: <span style="font-weight: 400;">9-8, no playoffs</span></p> <p><strong>J. Brooks:</strong> 7-10<span style="font-weight: 400;"> (and that&#8217;s a stretch), no playoffs</span></p> <p><strong>Frank Hanrahan:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">8-9. Too much hype and excitement for a team starting a legit journeyman QB. The defense will be stout but the QB play will be average, thus the sub-.500 record.</span></p> <p><strong>Dave Preston:</strong> 8-7-2</p> 1/5
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Washington Football Team calls a play during the NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField on August 20, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Q: What will Washington’s record be in 2021? Will they make the playoffs?

Dave Johnson: 10-7, 1 playoff win

Rob Woodfork: 8-9, no playoffs. The best case scenario is 11 wins and another division title, but when was the last time Washington had everything fall into place like that, especially the year after a division title? (The answer is 1983.)

George Wallace: 9-8, no playoffs

J. Brooks: 7-10 (and that’s a stretch), no playoffs

Frank Hanrahan: 8-9. Too much hype and excitement for a team starting a legit journeyman QB. The defense will be stout but the QB play will be average, thus the sub-.500 record.

Dave Preston: 8-7-2

<h4>Q: Who will be Washington&#8217;s most valuable offensive player?</h4> <p><strong>Dave Johnson: </strong>Ryan Fitzpatrick</p> <p><strong>Rob Woodfork:</strong> Terry McLaurin. This is the year he becomes a household name.</p> <p><strong>George Wallace:</strong> Antonio Gibson</p> <p><strong>J. Brooks:</strong> Terry McLaurin</p> <p><strong>Frank Hanrahan:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Won&#8217;t be FitzMagic but McLaurin, clearly.</span></p> <p><strong>Dave Preston:</strong> Terry McLaurin</p> <p><strong>Ben Raby:</strong> Antonio Gibson</p> 2/5
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 09: Wide receiver Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Football Team makes a catch as cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defends during the 4th quarter of the game at FedExField on January 09, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Q: Who will be Washington’s most valuable offensive player?

Dave Johnson: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Rob Woodfork: Terry McLaurin. This is the year he becomes a household name.

George Wallace: Antonio Gibson

J. Brooks: Terry McLaurin

Frank Hanrahan: Won’t be FitzMagic but McLaurin, clearly.

Dave Preston: Terry McLaurin

Ben Raby: Antonio Gibson

<h4>Q: Who will be Washington&#8217;s most valuable defensive player?</h4> <p><strong>Dave Johnson: </strong>Chase Young</p> <p><strong>Rob Woodfork:</strong> Chase Young. More on that when you scroll down.</p> <p><strong>George Wallace:</strong> Chase Young</p> <p><strong>J. Brooks: </strong>Montez Sweat</p> <p><strong>Frank Hanrahan:</strong> The o<span style="font-weight: 400;">bvious choice is Chase Young, but since O-lines will be so poised to stop him, that gives Montez Sweat the chance to really wreak havoc to become the team&#8217;s defensive MVP with double-digits sacks.</span></p> <p><strong>Dave Preston:</strong> Chase Young</p> <p><strong>Ben Raby:</strong> Chase Young</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> 3/5
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, right, is sacked by Washington Football Team defensive end Chase Young (99) during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Q: Who will be Washington’s most valuable defensive player?

Dave Johnson: Chase Young

Rob Woodfork: Chase Young. More on that when you scroll down.

George Wallace: Chase Young

J. Brooks: Montez Sweat

Frank Hanrahan: The obvious choice is Chase Young, but since O-lines will be so poised to stop him, that gives Montez Sweat the chance to really wreak havoc to become the team’s defensive MVP with double-digits sacks.

Dave Preston: Chase Young

Ben Raby: Chase Young

 

<h4>Q: Will any Washington players be awarded a leaguewide honor?</h4> <p><strong>Dave Johnson: </strong>Terry McLaurin will lead the league in receiving yards.</p> <p><strong>Rob Woodfork:</strong> As I said in <a href="https://wtop.com/gallery/nfl/2021-nfl-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my NFL preview</a>, I got Chase Young winning Defensive Player of the Year. Dude will be a force to be reckoned with, a la Aaron Donald. Mark my words.</p> <p><strong>George Wallace:</strong> Chase Young, Defensive Player of the Year</p> <p><strong>J. Brooks:</strong> Tress <span style="font-weight: 400;">Way, Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> 4/5
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 03: Defensive end Chase Young #99 and wide receiver Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Football Team walk off the field after winning 20-14 over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Q: Will any Washington players be awarded a leaguewide honor?

Dave Johnson: Terry McLaurin will lead the league in receiving yards.

Rob Woodfork: As I said in my NFL preview, I got Chase Young winning Defensive Player of the Year. Dude will be a force to be reckoned with, a la Aaron Donald. Mark my words.

George Wallace: Chase Young, Defensive Player of the Year

J. Brooks: Tress Way, Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro

 

 

<h4>Q: What&#8217;s your bold prediction for Washington&#8217;s 2021 season?</h4> <p><strong>Dave Johnson: </strong>Washington will have league’s best defense.</p> <p><strong>Rob Woodfork:</strong> I have a few, actually.</p> <ol> <li>Terry McLaurin will lead the NFL in catches and receiving yards.</li> <li>Montez Sweat will have more sacks than Chase Young, but Young will have more impact plays (forced fumbles, etc.).</li> <li>Young’s buddy Jaret Patterson scores two special teams touchdowns. I mean, look at the picture above. Tell me that doesn&#8217;t look a young Brian Mitchell.</li> </ol> <p><strong>George Wallace:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Fitz will start 16 games.</span></p> <p><strong>J. Brooks:</strong> Kyle <span style="font-weight: 400;">Allen ends up finishing the season due to Fitzmagic running out of luck and turning into Fitztragic, in part because of injury this time. And Taylor Heinicke comes back to earth.</span></p> <p><strong>Dave Preston:</strong> The team starts multiple quarterbacks and uses multiple kickers this fall, yet still comes to within a whisker of the postseason.</p> <p><strong>Frank Hanrahan:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Terry McLaurin will triple his TD amount from a season ago, hauling in 12 and make All-Pro.</span></p> <p><strong>Ben Raby:</strong> WFT beats Bucs Nov. 14 by double digits!</p> 5/5
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Jaret Patterson #35 of the Washington Football Team returns a kick in the second half during the NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField on August 20, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Q: What’s your bold prediction for Washington’s 2021 season?

Dave Johnson: Washington will have league’s best defense.

Rob Woodfork: I have a few, actually.

  1. Terry McLaurin will lead the NFL in catches and receiving yards.
  2. Montez Sweat will have more sacks than Chase Young, but Young will have more impact plays (forced fumbles, etc.).
  3. Young’s buddy Jaret Patterson scores two special teams touchdowns. I mean, look at the picture above. Tell me that doesn’t look a young Brian Mitchell.

George Wallace: Fitz will start 16 games.

J. Brooks: Kyle Allen ends up finishing the season due to Fitzmagic running out of luck and turning into Fitztragic, in part because of injury this time. And Taylor Heinicke comes back to earth.

Dave Preston: The team starts multiple quarterbacks and uses multiple kickers this fall, yet still comes to within a whisker of the postseason.

Frank Hanrahan: Terry McLaurin will triple his TD amount from a season ago, hauling in 12 and make All-Pro.

Ben Raby: WFT beats Bucs Nov. 14 by double digits!

Rob Woodfork

Rob Woodfork is WTOP's Senior Sports Content Producer, which includes duties as producer and host of the DC Sports Huddle, nightside sports anchor and sports columnist on WTOP.com.

rwoodfork@wtop.com

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