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The Washington Football Team has had a tumultuous season, but they head into Week 17 somehow managing to control their own playoff fate. If they go on the road and beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington clinches the NFC East and joins the field of the 2021 NFL playoffs. If Washington loses, they are headed home for the offseason. If we want to get really crazy, Washington also gets in with a tie and the Cowboys either losing or tying the Giants.
Washington entered the season as a sizable long-shot to make it to the playoffs at DraftKings Sportsbook. They had the longest odds to win the NFC East, installed at +1300 coming out of training camp. They also had the third longest odds to just make the playoffs. They were +550 to make the playoffs in any form coming into Week 1, with only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals sitting on longer odds.
The NFC East has been a mess this season and will have a team with a losing record representing it. Washington struggled mightily out of the gate, sitting at 2-7 after ten weeks. However, a four-game win streak that included a stunning upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers has them on the verge of an unlikely playoff berth.