Washington went 8-7-1 and missed the playoffs by a whisker. Here’s a look at the standout images from 2016.

It was easy, and the Washington Redskins didn’t know how to react to that. They have an exasperating addiction to drama, participating in affairs that exaggerate NFL parity, but for once they encountered a game that even they could not keep close. And they actually had to come to terms with this mysterious outcome.

“You’re out there just smiling, like, ‘Geez. Wow,’ ” linebacker Will Compton said after a 41-21 victory Saturday over the Chicago Bears.

“That felt, uh, different,” running back Chris Thompson said.

“Actually, winning the closer ones feel a lot better,” left tackle Trent Williams said.

[Five interceptions spark Redskins to romp of Bears]

(Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

To understand this laborious season, notice how awkward easy looks on them. For 15 games, Washington has grappled with expectations and inconsistency, producing a season as loony and turbulent as an 8-6-1 record indicates. This team hasn’t just preferred the hard way. It has often opted for the impossible way, saving its season after an 0-2 start, playing poorly every time it has momentum and performing its best when you least expect it. The journey has been simultaneously infuriating, uplifting and befuddling.

And now the drama reaches its climatic moment: the final week of the season, with the team’s playoff fate still to be determined.

Fittingly, it’s a difficult situation. Vying for the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC, Washington needs to beat the New York Giants next Sunday and do some scoreboard watching. A postseason berth will require multiple games playing out in the Redskins’ favor.

After winning the NFC East with a 9-7 record last season and losing in the opening playoff round to Green Bay, Washington needs another postseason bid as validation. But there is a bigger picture to consider, too. On Saturday, the franchise clinched a second straight winning season. It’s the first time in 19 years that has happened.

[Best and worst moments from Redskins’ 41-21 win over the Bears]

If you’re tracking the progress of a major rebuilding effort, consecutive winning campaigns represents a major development. The franchise hasn’t had back-to-back playoff appearances since the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Perhaps in the future, we won’t be discussing low bars that haven’t been cleared in decades. But for now, incremental progress matters.

“It means a lot,” Coach Jay Gruden said of clinching another winning season. “I’m proud of that fact, obviously. It’s been a long time. We still have a ways to go, without a doubt. I think we’re building something special here. We’re a little disappointed that we’re not in better shape for the playoffs this year, but I think we’re trending up, as far as what we’re trying to build around here, and I’m happy with where we’re going.”

Gruden’s suggestion that they’re “building something special” remains open for debate. They seem to be building something better, though.

Williams has been with the team for seven seasons, and he has seen a few promising starts devolve into the trademark futility of the Daniel Snyder ownership era. The Pro Bowl tackle doesn’t have to be as cautious with his optimism anymore.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Williams said. “Things are finally starting to turn around. Obviously, this is my first time ever playing meaningful games in December in back-to-back years, so I’m extremely happy to see the direction that the franchise is going, and hopefully we continue to go up.”

Third-year cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had two of Washington’s five interceptions Saturday, played on a 4-12 team during his rookie season in 2014. He has contributed to the culture change, and in many ways, this season has been the hardest part of the rebuilding mission. Still, there’s a fight to this team that previous versions have lacked.

“It’s very big to rewrite history,” Breeland said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re still fighting. I sense it a lot.”

[Redskins’ defensive backs have a field day against Matt Barkley]

Even though Chicago (3-12) is among the NFL’s worst teams, this game provided an interesting glimpse into Washington. The Redskins needed to win their final three games of the regular season to control their playoff hopes. But they turned in a flat performance in a devastating 26-15 loss against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, and the players were asked to turn around and play a must-win game again on Saturday with two fewer days to prepare than usual.

It was, as Compton said, “a mental week.” They didn’t do much physical activity during practice. They used the short week to study film and understand the game plan, walking through most of the concepts instead of practicing at full speed. And then they had to work on the overall team mind-set to ensure that the Carolina letdown wouldn’t linger.

“We had to come out here and prove to our coaches and everyone that we want this just as bad as they do,” admitted Thompson, who scored Washington’s first two touchdowns against Chicago.

The Bears were overmatched. They were too awful to lurk and wait for Washington to produce enough mishaps to let them back in the game.

Outside of a poor defensive showing in the second quarter, the Redskins played as complete a game as they have all season. At times they looked dominant, running the ball effectively (208 yards) and attacking through the air. Kirk Cousins threw for 270 yards. He passed for one touchdown and rushed for two. DeSean Jackson caught five passes for 114 yards, including a 57-yarder. And then the defense kept intercepting passes from Chicago quarterback Matt Barkley, five of them in all, the team’s finest ball-hawking performance in 24 years.

Josh Norman, Washington’s $75 million cornerback, matched Breeland’s two interceptions. Safety Will Blackmon added another. Barkley embarrassed the defense by throwing for 175 yards in the first half, but four of his five picks came after halftime. In particular, Norman was motivated to erase a poor start.

“For one, I was pissed off,” Norman said. “A lot of stuff was going on that I didn’t think was supposed to be, but that’s the game. You’ve got to play through. I got to the point where I felt disrespected, and I just locked down. I went to another dark place in my mind and said enough is enough. God helped me out with that. I said a quick prayer. I said, ‘Look, man, we’ve got to get this out of here. We got to stop this crap.’ And we did.”

Norman sure talks to God differently than most.

And his team, a most unconventional playoff contender, pursues the playoffs differently than most. But it’s still breathing. One week left and the postseason is still possible.

“We’re not giving up,” Williams said. “Where a lot of people would’ve wanted to count us out, we had other plans.”

For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.