Ron Rivera battled cancer. Alex Smith overcame an injury that almost cost him his leg.
And now, the coach and quarterback of the Washington Football Team can call themselves NFC East champions after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 20-14.
Alex Michaels summed it up best, threatening to say, “Do you believe in miracles?” That is the line he used when the 1980 Olympic team stunned the Russians in Lake Placid. Michaels held his tongue in Philly.
The 7-9 record and overall ineptitude of the NFC East has created a stream of jokes.
However, there should be nothing but admiration for Rivera and Smith, who overcame so much to lead Washington into the playoffs.
Rivera spoke at length after learning he had cancer in August.
He went through treatment and got to ring the bell after he was clear of the dreaded disease.
Smith’s story has been told in great detail and he is nothing short of the Comeback Player of the Year.
And now, they get read to play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild-Card round.
Amazing.
