Getty Images
The Washington Football Team is, with 7-9, the worst team in the playoffs. But that’s not how Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians sees it.
As Arians prepared to train against Washington on Saturday night, he noted that Washington has a winning record when Alex Smith is the starter, as will be the case this week.
“We are not playing with a 7-9 team. We are playing with a 4-1 team. When Alex Smith plays, they are a 4-1 team, ”said Arians on ESPN. “We are not going to play Dwayne Haskins. We are playing Alex Smith.
The Aryans underestimated how much better Washington’s record was with Smith during the 2020 season: Washington got 5-1 in games started by Smith, 1-5 in games started by Haskins and 1-3 in games started by Kyle Allen.
It is not surprising that Arians do not want their team to think of their opponent as a 7-9 team. No playoff opponent can be taken for granted.