Week 10’s Game of the Week features the Washington Football Team and Head Coach Terry Longbons hosting former Protégé Fatty Matty Ryebread in the Nation’s Capitol.
Longbons, a standout tailback at the University of Arizona in NCAA 05, has struggled mightily head-to-head with his former college coach. In their 10 showdowns, the WFT is a putrid 2-8 with 6 straight losses, including a playoff loss in 2030, 59-45.
But these are two drastically different teams than seasons past. For the Football Team, Brian Lloyd is the unquestioned full-time starter as DC Legend Max Spiegel was shipped out to the Chargers in-season last year. A very green Lloyd did make a start last year vs. the Cards, and it was a disaster. He posted a 9/18 for 94 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 picks vs. the NFC runner-up. Since then, Lloyd has grown as a passer and is not the liability he clearly was in ’31.
The man behind him has changed too, as future Hall of Fame running back Damien Vance was also shipped out as the WFT tried to shed heavy contracts and get out of Salary Cap Hell. In from Jacksonville is Kris Fuller, and coupled with Malik Newberry, the WFT running game hasn’t missed a beat. They will need to show up against Ryebread’s stout run defense to give DC a chance.
But really, the WFT breakdown can begin and end with Markus Clark. The speedy WR has shattered records and is the undisputed centerpiece of the Washington offense. Playing on the franchise tag in 2032, Clark has been as good as ever. Much like Spiegel before him, whenever Lloyd needs a play, or is trouble, he’s going to Clark. The defenses know it, too, but often it doesn’t matter. How the Cardinals attempt to slow down Clark will be paramount to victory.
The Football Team’s defense, though not as feisty as it once was, is still a formidable unit, anchored in the middle (probably for all of eternity) by Lane Anderson. A recent trade of pass rush ace Josh Hollenbach has left some questions along the d-line, and how they hold up vs. the Ryebread attack will be a giant question mark heading into the game.
Meanwhile in the desert, the Cards are in their normal position near the top of the standings as they have cemented themselves as the perennial second-best team in the NFC. But the cast of characters contributing is different than recent past.
Under center, old friend Kyler Murray is back for his second tour of duty in Arizona. The cagey vet is not as protective of the ball as his predecessor Dave Oldham was, but he brings a new dimension to the offense with his feet. Paired in the backfield with Hines Roethlisberger, a new Read Option running attack has flummoxed defenses in its limited exposure.
And when you load the box to stop the run, Murray still has old reliable Antwan Smart out wide to make plays. The TE checkdown game, too, is as present as always in the Ryebread arial attack.
Defensively is where the fighting Ryebread’s don’t get enough credit though. Constantly near the top in yards allowed, points allowed, and turnovers forced, 2032 is more of the same for the Cards. Though DE legend Brian Salas has been marginalized slightly, the Cards still get pressure, and still force turnovers. The addition of former Eagle Levi McBath before trade deadline should help sure up the D-Line.
This game definitely means more to the host team, as the WFT enters the toughest stretch of their schedule. If they want to shut the door on Abe Hands’ hopes for the division, a win today would go a long way. But nothing in the recent past has shown why 2032 is different for Longbons in this matchup.
Final prediction – Cardinals 28 – Washington 17.
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