Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins playing amazing football

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing some amazing football, and it’s helped the Redskins win their first division title since 2012.

The Washington Redskins are headed to the playoffs. Just let that sink in for a bit.

Before the season started, I would have guessed that this ‘mess’ of a team — especially at the QB position — would have been in contention for a number one overall pick rather than a division title.

In perhaps any other year, this team might not be a playoff team, but because the NFC East is so poor this season, the 8-7 Redskins have locked up a playoff berth and the division title. That’s thanks large in part to the play of Kirk Cousins, the forgotten man at the start of this season and the one who appeared to be taking a starting job from Robert Griffin III simply to say that RG3’s career in Washington was all but over.

One of the most talked about trades in recent years is the one that surrounded RG3, and it’s a trade the Redskins would appear to have lost as it pertains to the value of players in the deal. Let’s have a look…

It’s pretty cut and dry here. The Redskins gave up the world for RG3, and the Rams’ core was significantly upgraded because of it. I don’t foresee Griffin in Washington next season, but the Redskins probably don’t care at this point. They are going to be giving out a new contract to a quarterback this offseason — happily — and it will be Kirk Cousins rather than RG3.

You see, what’s lost in the whole RG3 trade aftermath is this — the Redskins have now made the playoffs twice since the trade (2012, 2015) while the St. Louis Rams are still seeking their first playoff berth in how long? This article isn’t necessarily meant to put down the Rams, but to highlight how well Kirk Cousins has played. Cousins has thrown 26 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions this season. Sure, he’s fumbled nine times, but he’s also got five rushing touchdowns on the year and has given Washington the ‘franchise’ guy they hoped RG3 could be.

Selected in the fourth round as a backup option, Cousins had come in and played decent when given the chance, but there were also times when he looked pretty bad. Once he was given the reins to the team permanently, there were ups and downs but he has been absolutely critical this season to the Redskins’ division title run and he’s also helped turn Jordan Reed into one of the premiere receiving tight ends in the game.

By season’s end, it’s likely (unless he’s benched in the final regular season game) that Cousins will eclipse 4,000 yards passing this season. He will have also silenced every critic that said he and the Redskins couldn’t do it at the start of this season, and I imagine he has just one response to it all…

You like that?