Washington started the season embarrassingly bad on defense, giving up big plays and not getting off of the field very often on third downs.
Yet the last two games against Tampa Bay and Carolina have witnessed the WFT defense playing much better.
There have been fewer broken tackles, fewer blown coverages and fewer big offensive plays.
On third downs, the WFT held Tampa to 4 of 10 conversions and the numbers were even better against Carolina, as the Panthers only converted 2 of 9 third downs, and 1 of 3 fourth downs.
Two huge defensive plays come to mind from the 27-21 Week 11 win over the Panthers.
Washington led 24-21 with 3:05 remaining when Carolina called timeout to plan their play selection for the 4th & 3 at their own 32.
Watch as Kam Curl lines up in man-to-man coverage against Christian McCaffrey.
Curl shadows McCaffrey then aggressively makes the play keeping McCaffrey from getting the ball to the 35-yard line for the first down.
Washington leading 27-21 and Carolina facing a 3rd & 2 from the 50, cornerback William Jackson III is in press coverage and makes an assertive play on the ball, breaking up the pass, setting up a fourth down.
The next play is a 4th & 2 from the 50.
Jack Del Rio sends just the four defensive linemen, dropping seven into coverage.
Daron Payne had been double-teamed on third down; but on fourth down, Carolina doubles on Jonathan Allen.
LDE James Smith-Williams begins to get good penetration, so Newton attempts to run through the pocket to pick up the two yards, but Payne and Smith-Williams get to Newton for the first WFT sack of the game, a game-clinching sack.
Former Alabama DL Daron Payne sacks Cam Newton to seal the win for Washington Football Team. pic.twitter.com/HjBkYhDp4b
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) November 21, 2021
Just a month ago the WFT had the worst third-down defense, permitting opponents to convert 57 percent of the time.
WFT opponents have now converted 71 of 134 third-down attempts for 53.0 percent, still the worst in the NFL. However, after improved performances against Denver, Tampa and Carolina there is room for some optimism regarding the defense.