Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins Stats In 2015 Are Historic

The Washington Redskins have three games remaining in the 2015 NFL season with a 6-7 record that’s good enough for first place in the NFC East. It’s surprising to see the team atop their division so late in the season. However, all things considered, it’s a position they should be in with the dysfunction among their division rivals.

Washington has managed to reach a level of competence as an organization this year and continues to avoid disastrous outcomes. They’ve only lost two consecutive games once (weeks 5 and 6). Although, they also have not won two consecutive games this season. Not to mention, it took 14 weeks for them to get their first win on the road — which is only Jay Gruden’s second away win as coach. So, the only thing consistent about this team is that they’re inconsistent. That, in a way, is progress.

The personality of Washington’s season matches what many perceive QB Kirk Cousins to be — inconsistent. However, he’s managed to provide the Redskins with stability at the most important position in football. That too, in a way, is progress. But how much progress, is the question?

Kirk Cousins is statistically having a historic season. His five, 300-yard passing performances is a career high and ties a franchise record set three times previously (Sonny Jurgensen in 1967, Jay Schroeder in 1986 and Mark Rypien in 1989). Cousins’ streak of games with a touchdown pass (13) is also a record that was previously held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen in 1967. He’s one of four QBs to have a touchdown in every game this season (Blake Bortles, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson). Cousins (554) has also moved past No. 12 Norm Snead (531), No. 11 Eddie LeBaron (529), No. 10 Mark Brunell (542) and No. 9 Brad Johnson (544) for ninth-most career completions in franchise history. Not to mention, Cousins has three career fourth quarter comebacks and game-winning drives. Two of those three came in 2015. For comparison sake, Robert Griffin III has four fourth quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.

I’ll save you the bore of comparing and contrasting Cousins’ stats. I’m reluctant to form conclusions off stats alone. But the point is, Cousins has given the Redskins stability compared to previous seasons, with exception of 2012. Washington’s recent, and past for that matter, history at QB is a pretty low bar to hurdle. Over the past seven games, Cousins has thrown 12 TDs and 3 interceptions compared to 6 TDs and 8 interceptions in his first six games. Statistically, Cousins is trending up. However, one could argue that he’s leveling off into his true identity.

Based on film study, Cousins is playing careful football — too careful at times. But he’s also become better in the short to intermediate game. Cousins hasn’t raised the play of the guys around him, but he’s allowing them to make plays — for the most part. For every positive, there’s a negative. For every answer, there’s a question. That’s just the story of Cousins’ career so far. But I think what he has been for the past seven games is what he will be as a QB in this league. That being, good-enough. But even categorizing him as good-enough presents the question, “good enough to do what?” Washington has still only won four games in the past seven games. So being good-enough, for the most part, has not equated to wins. They’ve still been inconsistent. That’s not to say the loses are his fault. But it’s an important note.

Kirk Cousins has probably done enough to justify the team likely attempting to re-sign him in the off-season. He’s established himself as a good-enough Quarterback. But he has not done enough to say he’s a Franchise QB, which could force Scot McCloughan to continue searching for Plan-B. Even if the Redskins don’t make any key changes this off-season, it’ll be interesting to see how McCloughan attacks the unknown. But in the meantime, Washington has an opportunity to reach the playoffs and evaluation mode continues. Maybe Cousins has a Joe Flacco-type game in the playoffs that forces the Redskins to reconsider him as a true Franchise guy. It could happen. You never know. That’s why we continue evaluating.

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