ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Football Team was 2-7 in November and seemingly headed nowhere, even while playing in the NFC East. A bad team in a terrible division.
Still, Washington professed hope. Coach Ron Rivera maintained they could win the division, a comment that often drew raised eyebrows and snickers -- even if it was mathematically accurate.
Then, Washington won four straight games. The laughing stopped.
And then it became obvious: Don't bet against a team whose coach underwent in-season cancer treatment and whose quarterback, Alex Smith, needed 17 surgeries so he could walk and play again.