Heading into the 2021 season, the Washington Football Team was expected to boast one of the best defensive units in the NFL. But so far through the first two games of the year, they haven’t exactly lived up to those expectations.
In Week 1, Washington allowed 424 yards, 27 first downs and 14 third-down conversions (tying a franchise record) to Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers in a 20-16 loss. This past Thursday, they allowed the New York Giants to collect 391 yards in a high-scoring contest that saw the Football Team win on a game-winning field goal (30-29).
While the Washington defense has yet to deliver on expectations, the NFL’s reigning defensive rookie of the year, Chase Young, isn’t too worried about his squad.
“It’s just the little things we have to correct. That’s what we’re working to do,” Young said Wednesday, per NBC Sports Washington.
“I love that people hold us to a high standard because we hold ourselves to a high standard,” he added. “But we’re not really paying attention to the noise, obviously. We’re just going to keep working. When we start playing good defense, they’re going to love us again. That’s why we’re not really worried about the outside noise.”
While the Washington defense as a whole hasn’t produced, the team’s pass rush has put up some solid numbers as they’re currently tied for fifth in the league with six sacks.
Coming off a 7.5-sack season in 2020 though, Young has yet to record his first in 2021.
“It’s only game two. The numbers are going to come. I’m [not] really trippin’ over that,” Young said. “Right now, my biggest focus, our biggest focus as a defense is for everybody to do their individual jobs. At the end of the day, it should all come together.”
Young and the Washington D will face off against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.
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