Chase Young and Antonio Gibson send clear message that NFC East runs through Washington

Chase Young and the Washington Football Team might win the NFC East.

No one gave the Washington Football Team much of a chance at the beginning of the season. After a turbulent offseason, the worst team in the NFC heading into the year with one of either Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, or Alex Smith at quarterback didn’t seem like a winning formula.

Against all odds, Washington has forged a ground and pound identity that helped them slaughter the Dallas Cowboys 41-16 on the road this Thanksgiving and put them in the NFC East driver’s seat. At the center of all of this are rookies Chase Young and Antonio Gibson, who have given Ron Rivera stars on both sides of the ball.

Chase Young and Antonio Gibson have both exceeded expectations for Washington

Young, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, came into this game leading all rookies in pressures, and he continued to show signs of improvement, totaling two tackles for loss and a sack that upped his season total to 4.5. At just 21 years old, Young already appears to be one of the better two-way defensive ends in the NFC.

If there was anything to gush about related to Washington this offseason, it was one of the league’s best defensive lines, which also features Montez Sweat, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, and Ryan Kerrigan, under the watchful eye of a veteran DC in Jack Del Rio. This is a defense-first team that wants to make life hell up front, and Young has been a huge reason why teams like the Cowboys have shrunk against Washington.

Gibson, who had just 33 career rushing attempts in college, already looks like one of the league’s better power backs, as he pushed his rookie touchdown total up to 11 on the ground when he found the end zone three times. The third-rounder, who mostly played wide receiver in college, has proven he can be the bell cow for a team that is physically incapable of throwing beyond 20 yards, and that iron-headed mentality will serve this offense well.

Yes, Smith is a limited downfield passer playing in a conservative offense with one true stud receiver in Terry McLaurin. However, as long as Gibson is able to consistently grind out yards and remain a factor in the passing game, Washington could overcome their quarterback deficiency enough to make it to the postseason,

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Rivera was taking a risk forming his team around two rookies, but his risk has been rewarded given how close Washington is to the postseason.