The Washington Football Team entered Monday night’s Week 13 NFL game in need of a win to take over first place in the NFC East. This, despite the fact that Alex Smith and Co. were 4-7 on the season.
Standing in Washington’s way was a Pittsburgh Steelers squad that was 11-0 heading in. Pittsburgh was overwhelming favorites to take out Washington.
It looked like this would be the case with the Steelers taking a 14-0 lead despite some tremendous play from Chase Young and Washington’s defense.
Washington came all the way back to make it a 17-17 game late in the fourth quarter when the story of the NFL season, quarterback Alex Smith, did his thing to help Washington pull off the biggest upset thus far this year.
Huge pass and catch as Washington looks to pull major upset. pic.twitter.com/7oOrvjA7jz
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) December 8, 2020
This resulted in a go-ahead field goal and a 20-17 lead. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was then intercepted on their following possession to put this game away.
What an absolutely amazing win for Ron Rivera’s squad. Washington now finds itself at 5-7 and in first place in the NFC East.
This comes amid a season in which Rivera himself has battled cancer while Alex Smith returned from a two-year absence due to a leg injury that almost cost him his life. For the Washington organization as a whole, it also comes months after a drama-filled offseason threatened to derail everything.
Obviously, a lot of the focus was on Alex Smith’s comeback and a signature win for the veteran quarterback.
What Alex Smith has done is unbelievable.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 8, 2020
Comeback Player of the Year even before taking a snap.
But playing winning football after everything he’s been through is even more incredible.
Alex Smith almost died. Ben had elbow surgery https://t.co/zH8NCCkGEf
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) December 8, 2020
Thank you Alex Smith pic.twitter.com/MdqEZs4NPM
— Joe (@UtahChief) December 8, 2020
I love that Alex Smith is having this nice little run. Not a player in the league who deserves it more after what he went through.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) December 8, 2020
Ron Rivera is battling cancer and Alex Smith almost died and should never have played football again and together they’re about to beat the last undefeated team in the NFL, and that’s pretty neat
— Bird Law Expert (@RealBirdLawyer) December 8, 2020
The rest of the reactions dealt with Washington somehow finding a way to defeat an 11-0 team. This represented the squad’s third consecutive win after starting the season with a 2-7 record.
How important is culture in the NFL? Look at what Brian Flores has done in Miami. Joe Judge with the GMen. Now Ron Rivera in Washington. Should be a strong signal to those in the market for coaches this offseason what the need to be looking for.
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) December 8, 2020
W H A T I S H A P P E N I N G #WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/h5E4BseaLX
— NBCSports Washington (@NBCSWashington) December 8, 2020
Steelers fans: “We’re the best team in the league! We’re going 16-0!”
— BroskiBrees on instagram (@broskibrees) December 8, 2020
Washington: pic.twitter.com/Z3dzExTg0b
Washington Football Team in good hands with Chase Young and Montez Sweat
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) December 8, 2020
#Giants beat the #Seahawks in Seattle for their 4th straight win.#Washington beat the #Steelers in Pittsburgh for their 3rd straight win.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2020
NFC East: pic.twitter.com/0ASgadyDf6
What an amazing story in the nation’s capital right now.
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