"Chuck Knocks" is back for another season, but for the first time in five years our Seahawk Opponent Training Camp Previews will live on our website. Fear not, The Feltsulator is coming with us to the website. Game by game, Jackson Felts will simulate the entire 2020 season (not sure he can take the fans out of the stands, so sorry about the lack of authenticity). I'll handle the rest...
WEEK 15 (GAME 14): THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
THE INTERESTING SCALE: A
If football players were all that made a Training Camp interesting, we'd be looking at a D grade here, cuz let's face it this Washington roster is dull as dirt. However, between QB Alex Smith's IMPOSSIBLE comeback attempt and the first franchise in NFL history to play without a name, there might be more topics to discuss at the Washington Football Team camp than anywhere in the NFL.
THE NEW FACE AT REDSKINS CAMP: THE LACK OF ONE
Normally, a head coach as accomplished as Ron Rivera taking over the mess that is Washington football would be a no-brainer as our "New Face" at camp. And if not him, surely second overall pick Chase Young would prove freshest, but he's not even under consideration. Instead, it's the removal of the face that was the franchise logo for decades in Washington that is the big story here. It's been a long time coming.
STAR OF REDSKINS CAMP: RON RIVERA
The former Panthers head coach had choices in the offseason, and yet he opted for Washington, where he faces a history shaping challenge. Owner Daniel Snyder has finally broken under the pressure of changing the franchise name and logo, and the organization is simultaneously wearing the stain of systemic sexual harassment allegations. So, without having coached a single game in Washington, Ron Rivera finds himself at the center of change for a franchise he barely knows. And thus far, he seems to be handling the situations with aplomb.
FANTASY PICK: TERRY McLAURIN
I'm not exactly stumping for Terry McLaurin here. I'm just not sure there's another player on the roster anyone should consider starting. And if you've ended up with Dwayne Haskins as your best option at quarterback, you have failed at life.
OUTLOOK: 1-15
Washington won just three games last year, and I'm not seeing where they've improved. Chase Young will be fun to watch, but he's not single-handedly turning around a defense that finished 27th in scoring and yards allowed. Offensively, Washington finished dead last in scoring last fall and, although Haskins needs to play and should be shown patience, the offense might actually take a step back... from last place!!
And with the first pick in the strangest NFL Draft in history, the Washington Football Team selects Trevor Lawrence, who will now put on a blank red hat from his masked-up parents' couch...
SEAHAWKS AT REDSKINS: WHAT WILL WE BE SAYING MONDAY MORNING?
"The Hawks are doing what they need to do. 6-5 looked pretty bleak, but good teams take advantage of the weak, particularly this time of year. After winning the New York State Football Title the last two weeks, we went to DC and beat up on a team that's Tanking for Trevor... This one was never really in doubt. Russell was dynamite early, throwing three touchdown passes in the first four possessions. Then, in the second half, Carson and Hyde ran out the clock for a convincing 35-10 win... I'm not sure if we're playing better football right now--playoff football--or if we're just clobbering terrible opponents, but at 9-5 the Hawks need one win in the last two to make the playoffs. Win them both, and the West can still be won. So, on a day we typically set aside on KJR to recap, I think we've spent enough time on this lopsided win and we devote the rest of the show previewing the Rams & Niners to close out the season."
Which brings us to The Feltsulator. Since Chuck has already Knocked out his Rams and Niners previews, Jackson takes it from here... AND THEN, he'll run a completely new simulation to see how the 2020 Seahawks fare with Jamal Adams at safety and not Bradley McDougald. We're dealing with a lot of sh*t, here...
At 10-3, the Feltsulator Seahawks have their sights set on the top NFC seed. But first Seattle must take a trip to D.C. to face the Washington Football Team. On the first drive, Russell Wilson took Seattle into the red zone before Kendall Fuller picked off a pass to halt the chance. A Washington punt led to a Jason Myers field goal, then another Washington punt got Wilson back on the field. In their third trip to the red zone, the Seahawks finally found six on the ground with Chris Carson (video 1 below). Mid-way through the second quarter, Dwayne Haskins finally started cooking and with two minutes left, Derrius Guice found the endzone. Seattle led Washington 10-7 at the half.
After a Washington punt to open the second half, Russell Wilson marched down the field, then hit Will Dissly in the seam for a 21 yard touchdown. Washington responded, however, with a big drive and seven yard touchdown by the ageless one, Adrian Peterson. The 17-14 game moved through the fourth quarter where Haskins took over with eight minutes left. The sophomore quarterback eventually grabbed the lead on a seven yard touchdown pass with five minutes remaining.
Cue Russell Wilson time. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett caught four balls each, including a 21 yard touchdown strike to Lockett with just over two minutes left on the clock. Leading 24-21, the Seahawks had to hold Washington one last time... And it didn't happen. Haskins drove his team quickly down to the Seattle 10, but then threw three incompletions to bring up fourth down. A field goal tied the game at 24 with 45 seconds left. Russell Wilson then did this on the first play of the next drive.
Kendall Fuller. Again. This time for six. Absolute disaster. Wilson failed to move past midfield with 39 seconds left and the Feltsulator Seahawks stunningly lost 31-24, falling to 10-4 on the season.
Stats:
Russell Wilson: 33 of 48 for 403 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT
Dwayne Haskins: 23 of 37 for 272 yards and 1 TD
Chris Carson: 17 rushes for 47 yards and 1 TD
Adrian Peterson: 21 rushes for 102 yards and 1 TD
Tyler Lockett: 13 catches for 154 yards and 1 TD
DK Metcalf: 7 catches for 81 yards
Jeremy Sprinkle: 6 catches for 91 yards