Jonathan Allen Explains Why Washington Will Build on Successful 2021 Season

The Washington Football Team won the NFC East last season with a 7-9 record, but they don’t expect that to be possible again in 2021. 

With the NFL shifting to a 17-game schedule, Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen isn’t content with last year’s success. He knows the Football Team is building a winning culture, but he and his teammates are looking to turn their potential into something special this coming season.

“The biggest thing I try to tell my teammates is that as exciting as it is, and how much ‘potential’ we have, that’s all it is right now — it’s just potential,” Allen said. “We won the division with a 7-9 record. And as proud as we are to say we won the division, 7-9 is not what we’re shooting for every year. So I think we just have to keep things in perspective and realize we have a long way to go. We’re not even close to hitting where we think we can be or even where we want to be. And we’ve just got to continue to grind.”

WynnBET has Washington set at +225 odds to win the division, which puts them second on the odds list behind the Dallas Cowboys at +135. With Dak Prescott back in Dallas, Allen knows there won’t be any guarantees heading into this season. 

Still, the expectation is that Washington will find itself in the playoffs again in 2021. Right now, WynnBET has the Football Team’s odds to make the playoffs at +140 and their odds to miss at -180. 

“Now, where we are in 2021 compared to 2017 — night and day difference,” Allen said. “And that’s no shade to any other regime. I just know what we’re building here now, is a winning culture. And I’m a truly high believer that you can’t have a winning team without a winning culture and a winning atmosphere. And that goes from player personnel to the cooks, everybody — everybody has to be a part of it. And I think that’s what we’re doing here. So I think it’s exciting.”

Allen was a big part of a Washington defense that carried the team in 2020. He finished the year with 63 tackles and two sacks. Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, will garner most of the attention, but Allen is a key cog in Washington’s defense as a run stopper and pass rusher up the middle. 

Washington opens the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favorite to win that matchup.