For everyone that was worried about Kirk Cousins starting Sunday's game in Cleveland I have but one question, you ready for the final stretch? I was worried for all of one quarter, the first of course. Redskins nation has seen this happen way to many times in the last two decades. A team that we should easily beat ends up looking like the reigning super bowl champs and beating us, knocking us from any playoff hope. While Cousins struggled early on, it seems as though we have two quarterback in DC. Hell we haven't even had one solid quarterback since we won the super bowl and we have two now?
Cousins final stat line was an impressive 26 of 37 (70%) 329 yards 2 td's and 1 int. Throw in 2 sacks, a QB rating of 104.4 and 3 carries for 22 yards and that is a full day. Brandon Weeden started his 15th game (vs Cousins first) and would kill for that kind of day. The other Redskins rookie phenom, Alfred Morris, didn't have a spectacular day (27 carries 87 yards 2 tds and a 3.2 avg), but he ran hard when it mattered most. Hankerson continues to make every catch an adventure with his bobbled 54 yard td catch, thankfully he made a somewhat "normal" catch for the 2 yard touchdown pass. Please tell me I wasn't the only person who thought he was going to drop that one as well. None of the receivers had a huge day, but Cousins did complete passes to 8 different receivers. Essentially Kyle Shanahan showed why his father hired him to be the offensive coordinator and why he was the man down in Houston.
The defense showed up for the 5th straight game and honestly played better than the score shows. The Browns started their first scoring drive on the Redskins 6 yard line. To come out of the without giving up points is tough, especially since Richardson is a big tough runner. The Browns essentially only had two sustained scoring drives, with one ending in a long touchdown pass with the skins up by 17. Overall the Browns had 13 first downs (4 for 12 on 3rd downs), 291 total yards, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions. While there wasn't a whole lot of pressure put on Weeden, they confused him a good bit by setting up to blitz and dropping off. While I would have liked to see more blitzing, as long as we win I can't complain. The long touchdown pass was concerning, since they have doomed us all year, but was the defense even worried about the deep ball at that time?
Lastly, how about the special teams? Kai Forbath is absolutely the man. Every kick he has is right down the middle. He is now 15/15 on the year, add on 5 more extra points and a decent job on kickoff and thats a solid kicker. I tweeted Brian Mitchell a weeks ago and asked him who Forbath reminds him of, he had one simple answer, "Chip Lohmiller." The last sustained kicker that this team had. Sav Rocca was solid as Cribbs could only return 2 of 5 punts. Punt coverage held him to 15 total return yards. Kick coverage held Cribbs in check, he had a 27 yard avg and a long of 32 but lets remember return men are running out of the endzone, those yards count. Even if he gets to the 20 if he catches it 5 yards deep there's your 25 yard return. Lorenzo Alexander showed why his nickname is the "one man gang." He leveled Cribbs at least twice on returns.
Now the Redskins sit at 8-6 atop of a three way tie for first place in the NFC East. Redskins nation would have been thrilled to have 8 wins at season end back in April. Now with a potential showdown for first place with Dallas week 17 at FedEx Field how do we the fans feel now? I for one am pumped. I can not wait for the Philly game, the Dallas game and to host Seattle and give them a little bit of payback that is owed from the Gibbs playoff trips. Yea by that you can tell I see the Redskins winning out and why not? Philly is terrible, Foles can't handle pressure, no McCoy, no Vick, no Jackson, Babin is gone. Dallas will be tough but let's be honest, they couldn't stop the run on Thanksgiving, what makes you think they can in December? Romo hasn't looked Romo esq so that will happen. I can tell you now if it comes down to Romo on the final drive to make a play for the win, he will but to the wrong team. Buckle up Redskins nation, we are in for a decade of exciting December's and January's so get used to the hype and hope and lets be the best 12th man in football. HTTR
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