The 2021 season is the 90th season for the Washington Football Team and their second under head coachRon Rivera. Some additions and changes include the team hiring Martin Mayhew as general manager and Marty Hurney as another high-ranking executive.[1] With the hiring of Mayhew, who is black, Washington became the first team in NFL history to concurrently have a minority general manager, head coach, and team president.[2]Ryan Kerrigan, the franchise's all-time sack leader, was not retained before becoming a free agent in the offseason and later signed with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. With their Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington failed to become the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since the Eagles won 4 consecutive titles between 2001 and 2004, which continues the NFL's longest streak without a repeat division winner.
Washington will attempt to improve upon their 7–9 record from the previous season and make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Washington was also the first team since the 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have their final five games of the season be within the division.[3]
Washington received a third-round selection from San Francisco in exchange for offensive tackle Trent Williams.[4]
Washington received a seventh-round selection and offensive tackle David Sharpe from Las Vegas in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round selection.[5]
Washington traded a seventh-round selection (244th overall) to Miami in exchange for a seventh-round selection (258th overall) and offensive guard Ereck Flowers.[6]
Washington received sixth- and seventh-round selections (225th and 240th overall) from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round selection.[7]
Staff[]
Washington Football Team staff
v
t
Front office
Owner – Daniel Snyder
CEO – Tanya Snyder
President – Jason Wright
General manager – Martin Mayhew
Executive vice president of football/player personnel – Marty Hurney
Senior vice president of football administration – Rob Rogers
NYG – Daniel Jones 6-yard run (Graham Gano kick), 7:35. Giants 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 79 yards, 5:55.
Second quarter
WAS – Terry McLaurin 11-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Dustin Hopkins kick), 11:16. Tied 7–7. Drive: 13 plays, 90 yards, 7:01.
NYG – Graham Gano 23-yard field goal, 4:09. Giants 10–7. Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:09.
WAS – J. D. McKissic 2-yard run (Dustin Hopkins kick), 0:21. Football Team 14–10. Drive: 12 plays, 84 yards, 3:48.
Third quarter
NYG – Graham Gano 47-yard field goal, 9:07. Football Team 14–13. Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:53.
NYG – Darius Slayton 33-yard pass from Daniel Jones (Graham Gano kick), 4:41. Giants 20–14. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:50.
WAS – Dustin Hopkins 49-yard field goal, 1:30. Giants 20–17. Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 3:11.
Fourth quarter
NYG – Graham Gano 52-yard field goal, 13:35. Giants 23–17. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:55.
WAS – Dustin Hopkins 37-yard field goal, 8:46. Giants 23–20. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 4:49.
NYG – Graham Gano 55-yard field goal, 4:50. Giants 26–20. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:56.
WAS – Ricky Seals-Jones 19-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Dustin Hopkins kick), 4:33. Football Team 27–26. Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:17.
NYG – Graham Gano 35-yard field goal, 2:00. Giants 29–27. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 0:16.
WAS – Dustin Hopkins 43-yard field goal, 0:00. Football Team 30–29. Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards, 2:00.
Top passers
NYG – Daniel Jones – 22/32, 249 yards, TD
WAS – Taylor Heinicke – 34/46, 336 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
NYG – Daniel Jones – 9 rushes, 95 yards, TD
WAS – Antonio Gibson – 13 rushes, 69 yards
Top receivers
NYG – Sterling Shepard – 9 receptions, 94 yards
WAS – Terry McLaurin – 11 receptions, 107 yards, TD
A back and forth shootout, Washington capitalized on a late opportunity to escape with a 30-29 win. After Washington took a 14-10 lead into halftime, the Giants scored on their first 4 possessions of the second half to take a 26-20 lead. Washington answered back with a touchdown from Heinicke to Ricky Seals-Jones to take a 27-26 lead, but the Giants capitalized on a late Heinicke interception to take a 29-27 lead. After Washington got into field goal range, Dustin Hopkins missed a 48-yard field goal to win the game. However, the Giants were offside, which nullified the miss and gave Washington one untimed down, since a game cannot end on a defensive penalty. Hopkins made his second attempt from 43 yards to give Washington the win. This was Washington's first win over the Giants since Week 8 of the 2018 season, and improved their record to 1-1 on the season.
Week 3: at Buffalo Bills[]
Washington vs. the Buffalo Bills
Week 3: Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Buffalo got out to a 21-0 lead early, and Washington was never able to fully recover in a 43-21 loss. Josh Allen threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for another in the fourth to give Buffalo a 43-14 lead. The 43 points allowed were the most points Washington has allowed under Ron Rivera, and were the most points they had allowed since week 17 of the 2019 season against the Dallas Cowboys. Washington dropped to 1-2 on the season.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons[]
Washington vs. the Atlanta Falcons
Week 4: Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Washington was able to recover from an early 10-0 deficit to defeat the Falcons 34-30 behind 290 yards and 3 touchdowns from Taylor Heinicke. After the 10-0 deficit, Washington scored two touchdowns in the second to take a 13-10 lead. After the Falcons took a 17-13 lead into half, DeAndre Carter returned the second half kickoff 101 yards to give the lead back to Washington. The Falcons took back the lead and then extended it to 30-22 early in the fourth, but Heinicke threw two touchdowns in the final four minutes to give Washington the win. The win improved Washington to 2-2 on the season, and 2-0 in the conference.
Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints[]
Washington vs. the New Orleans Saints
Week 5: New Orleans Saints at Washington Football Team – Game summary
WAS – Joey Slye 46-yard field goal, 9:57. Football Team 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 3:36.
WAS – Joey Slye 28-yard field goal, 5:56. Football Team 6–0. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 3:50.
Second quarter
WAS – DeAndre Carter 20-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Joey Slye kick), 12:21. Football Team 13–0. Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 5:59.
TB – Ryan Succop 25-yard field goal, 6:44. Football Team 13–3. Drive: 13 plays, 68 yards, 5:37.
WAS – Joey Slye 29-yard field goal, 0:58. Football Team 16–3. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:46.
TB – Ryan Succop 31-yard field goal, 0:00. Football Team 16–6. Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 0:58.
Third quarter
TB – Cameron Brate 6-yard pass from Tom Brady (Ryan Succop kick), 8:46. Football Team 16–13. Drive: 4 plays, 43 yards, 2:00.
WAS – Antonio Gibson 1-yard run (Joey Slye kick), 4:21. Football Team 23–13. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 4:25.
Fourth quarter
TB – Mike Evans 40-yard pass from Tom Brady (kick failed), 10:55. Football Team 23–19. Drive: 3 plays, 47 yards, 1:32.
WAS – Antonio Gibson 1-yard run (run failed), 0:29. Football Team 29–19. Drive: 19 plays, 80 yards, 10:26.
Top passers
TB – Tom Brady – 23/34, 220 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
WAS – Taylor Heinicke – 26/32, 256 yards, TD
Top rushers
TB – Leonard Fournette – 11 rushes, 47 yards
WAS – Antonio Gibson – 24 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
TB – Mike Evans – 2 receptions, 62 yards, TD
WAS – Terry McLaurin – 6 reception, 59 yards
In a rematch of their Wild Card matchup from the previous season, Washington upset the Buccaneers 29-19 to end their four-game losing streak. Tom Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter, which Washington turned into 10 points to take a 13-0 lead early in the second. Tampa cut the lead to 23-19 early in the fourth, but Washington sealed the game with a 10 minute, 19-play touchdown drive. With the win, Washington improved to 3-6 on the season.
Week 11: at Carolina Panthers[]
Washington vs. the Carolina Panthers
Week 11: Washington Football Team at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Washington
0
14
7
6
27
Panthers
7
7
0
7
21
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Date: November 21
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 73,350
Referee: Bill Vinovich
TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
CAR – D. J. Moore 10-yard pass from Cam Newton (Zane Gonzalez kick), 9:32. Panthers 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:28.
Second quarter
WAS – Cam Sims 6-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Joey Slye kick), 13:29. Tied 7–7. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:56.
CAR – Cam Newton 24-yard run (Zane Gonzalez kick), 5:52. Panthers 14–7. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:33.
WAS – Terry McLaurin 12-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Joey Slye kick), 0:09. Tied 14–14. Drive: 12 plays, 71 yards, 5:43.
Third quarter
WAS – DeAndre Carter 4-yard pass from Taylor Heinicke (Joey Slye kick), 9:21. Football Team 21–14. Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 5:39.
Fourth quarter
CAR – Christian McCaffrey 27-yard pass from Cam Newton (Zane Gonzalez kick), 10:44. Tied 21–21. Drive: 7 plays, 91 yards, 4:09.
WAS – Joey Slye 36-yard field goal, 4:13. Football Team 24–21. Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 6:31.
WAS – Joey Slye 29-yard field goal, 1:50. Football Team 27–21. Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 1:03.
Top passers
WAS – Taylor Heinicke – 16/22, 206 yards, 3 TD
CAR – Cam Newton – 21/27, 189 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
WAS – Antonio Gibson – 19 rushes, 95 yards
CAR – Christian McCaffrey – 10 rushes, 59 yards
Top receivers
WAS – Terry McLaurin – 5 receptions, 103 yards, TD
CAR – Christian McCaffrey – 7 receptions, 60 yards, TD
Both teams traded a pair of touchdowns in the first half, with Newton throwing for a touchdown while rushing for another while Taylor Heinicke threw for two touchdowns. Washington took their first lead in the third quarter with Heinicke's throwing a touchdown to DeAndre Carter. After the Panthers tied it early in the fourth quarter, Washington got back-to-back field goals from Joey Slye. The Panthers' last shot to win the game was denied when Cam Newton got sacked on fourth down. With the win, Washington won back-to-back games for the first time in the season and improved to 4-6.
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks[]
Washington vs. the Seattle Seahawks
Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team – Game summary
^ abcDallas wins tiebreaker over LA Rams and Tampa Bay based on conference record.
^ abLA Rams wins tiebreaker over Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory.
^ abSan Francisco wins tiebreaker over Philadelphia based on head-to-head victory.
^ abMinnesota wins tiebreaker over Atlanta based on conference record. Division tiebreaker initially used to eliminate New Orleans (see below).
^ abAtlanta wins tiebreaker over New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^ abCarolina wins tiebreaker over Chicago based on strength of victory.
^ abCarolina wins tiebreaker over Seattle based on conference record.
^ abChicago wins tiebreaker over Seattle based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
Legend
w — Clinched wild card
x — Clinched playoff berth
y — Clinched division
z — Clinched first-round bye and home-field advantage
