You like that?! Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins wins our Week 12 Air It Out Award after completing 41 of 53 passes for 449 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 26-31 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Cousins completed passes to nine different receivers, with six of those receivers catching at least 4 passes. I guess that’s what happens when you complete 41 passes. Although the Redskins lost in this NFC East showdown, you can’t blame the Redskins quarterback. The former-Michigan State passer threw all three of his touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as he led the Redskins storming back within 5 points of stealing a win from the 10-1 Cowboys.
In fact, Cousins has been extremely impressive all month, averaging 362 yards and a 72% completion rate over the past three games. He has also thrown 8 touchdowns to 0 interceptions over that span. Cousins is on pace for his best season ever–by a long shot. He is currently 2nd in the NFL with 3,540 yards passing, putting him on pace for a career-high 5,149 yards. With 20 touchdown passes and 5 more games to play, Cousins will most likely pass his previous career high of 29 touchdowns (2015) too. That should be more enough to prove himself as a legitimate franchise quarterback.
Playing under the franchise tag in 2016, Kirk Cousins is making his case for a long-term contract. Whether it’s with the Redskins or not, Cousins has earned himself franchise quarterback money and a long-term contract, and is certain to get it this offseason.
He’ll only strengthen his case if he is able to carry this team into the playoffs for the second year in a row. If the season ended today, the Redskins would sneak into the playoffs as the #6 seed. In that scenario, the hyper-competitive NFC East would be sending three teams to the playoffs. Only time will tell if Cousins and the Redskins can hang onto that wildcard spot until the end of the season.
Chances are they will if Cousins keeps playing at such a high level. Plays like this one have Kirk Cousins asking, “How you like me now!?”
DESEAN. JACKSON.
GONE.67-yard TD from @KirkCousins8! #WASvsDAL #HTTR https://t.co/4bOZDVWMa8
— NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2016
And here’s a bit on Kirk Cousins’ improvement:
My thoughts on @DezBryant @J_No24 Why #Redskins lost to #Cowboys @KirkCousins8 improvement @nflnetwork https://t.co/iiWQOO0Syw
— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) November 26, 2016
(Photo Credit: Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)