WASHINGTON – Playoff football brings an adrenaline rush to a city, and Washington Redskins’ President Bruce Allen tells WTOP that the entire organization feels it, too.
Washington has arguably been playing some of the best football it has in recent years, and Allen says it all begins with the coaching staff.
“You’ve gotta tip your hat to the coaches,” Allen says. “They really put the players in the right position, and then our players came through in clutch times and throughout the game and executed the game plans very well.”
Fans did not have much to get excited about at the start of the 2015-16 season, with a losing record and an unproven starting quarterback. But then Kirk Cousins stepped in and stepped up, giving fans a reason to be hopeful.
“[Cousins] is a fine young man who’s really, really worked his rear end off to get into this position and you are proud of those players,” Allen says. “Now he has an opportunity to go against a future Hall of Fame quarterback, so it’s going to be an exciting day.”
The former backup quarterback will now be leading the team Sunday at FedEx Field against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
“The Packers obviously have a lot of playoff experience and potential to score 600 points in the game, so it’s going to be a good matchup of two storied franchises,” Allen says. “We’re glad to be playing at home and we know our fans are going to be cheering us on.”
While Redskins fans might have their sights set on extending their playoff run, Allen says the team has not been able to look ahead because of the way the season has gone thus far.
“Every game has been critical for us to win and I think that singular focus has really helped the team,” he says. “All we’re thinking about is the Green Bay Packers right now, and we’ll deal with whatever after this game.”
With a number of injuries hindering the Redskins’ lineup, Allen says the team still feels good about where they are at as a team heading into the playoffs.
“We’re hoping to get some guys back healthy,” Allen says. “We’re a banged-up football team, but I think the adrenaline of playoff football … It really is special.”
While Washington fans get donned in their best burgundy and gold and pack up their cars with tailgating essentials, Allen says the stadium will be ready for them this weekend.
“We’re gonna open up the parking lots at 11 a.m. and we have a Bud Light Pavilion so [ticketholders] can watch the 1 o’clock game and we have a special flyover before the game,” Allen says. “It’ll be an electric atmosphere typical of Washington playoffs and I’m hoping to hear ‘Hail to the Redskins’ several dozen times.”
The Redskins (9-7) and Packers (10-6) face off in Landover on Sunday at 4:40 p.m. for the Wild Card Round matchup.
