On an empty Philadelphia field, a forgotten band of losing players far from home fight behind a newcomer whose high-level math degree surely says the odds are against them. The frozen late-night air will see them either rally for the biggest upset of expectations since George Washington delivered freedom to the colonies or suffer a sudden ending to the most memorable of seasons.
From the pages of William Shakespeare's Henry V, Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith or maybe even newcomer Taylor Heinicke will deliver the St. Crispin's Day speech in the locker room.
"But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother."
Boys and girls of the burgundy and gold, Washington's season-ender at Philadelphia on Sunday is surely a modern version of a Shakespeare soliloquy. No one expected Washington to play for the NFC East title in the season finale. Indeed, a 6-9 record should have dispatched them from playoff talk long ago.
But they are playing for a flag that could have been captured in each of the last two weeks, only to suffer narrow defeats thanks to a former first-round pick who will never play again in Washington. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins ruined his chances of glory and is now entrenched as another in a long list of busts.
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So now the glory goes to either Smith or Heinicke. Smith, of course, is the obvious choice for the future Hollywood film of his amazing comeback. A player who nearly died from 2018 injuries is once more hurt. Yet, can he muster just one more performance to lead Washington to the playoffs? And maybe one or four more after that? Chris Pine is learning to throw passes to play Smith in the movie.
Or, does Washington rely on a newcomer who was more concerned over discrete mathematics exams just two weeks ago before being summoned to the practice squad. A man with only a whisper of pro experience might be asked to shoulder a franchise's hopes if Smith can't go. What are the odds of his success? Surely, Heinicke could tell us, but shouldn't if he's smart. Nobody wants to hear about lottery odds.
But those are the proper odds for a franchise that has seen its share of tragedies in a year of a pandemic. New coach, virus shuts down the offseason and preseason, sexual harassment claims against the front office, historic name surrendered under pressure, coach undergoes cancer treatment, and Smith returns after nearly two years but really only expected to mentor rather than play, are the highlights.
You can't make up this season. It has been the most memorable since the final Super Bowl championship of '91. Even the strike year of '87 didn’t have so many long shot stories.
But here is Washington suddenly playing in the final Sunday night game of the season, which is ironic after the NFL schedule-makers gave them no prime time games all year. Translation – they figured Washington stunk so why bother?
Maybe Smith gets the final chapter of his Hollywood ending and leads Washington to victory. Or, maybe Heinicke earns a few years in the NFL by being the latest passer to emerge from nowhere when the first-rounder repeatedly failed.
Either way, Washington is now in sudden death where the next loss leads to an offseason of searching for a new quarterback. That is, unless this band of brothers survives to fight once more.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
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