The Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins locked arms on Sunday in the second-to-last game for the Broncos this year in Washington, with desperate Broncos fans fixated on potential free agent to be Kirk Cousins.
Under the microscope immediately to start the game, Cousins started the game 0-for-5 through the air. He was inaccurate, jittery and unsettled, including missing an open out route on the left sideline to Josh Doctson that was simply missed while backed up on his own goal line. Pressure was a factor, however, the Broncos’ pass rush wouldn’t let Cousins get settled in. That wouldn’t last for long, much to the Broncos’ chagrin.
Cousins began to keep drives alive, showcasing his mobility and rushing for multiple first downs in the game, avoiding a bull-rushing Von Miller collapsing the pocket. The Redskins had a very hard time containing Miller, as the Pro Bowler was in Cousins’ face all game long, but even so, Cousins delivered behind a middling Redskins offensive line; one that ranks in the top-ten in quarterback hits allowed and fourth in sacks coming into Sunday.
Cousins showed off his arm strength late in the first quarter, airing out a deep ball towards Doctson on a deep go-route, but the pass was broken up by Broncos cornerback Marcus Rios. The deep pass was underthrown by a yard, allowing Rios to catch up for the deflection. Rios made a terrific play, but a better throw would’ve likely hooked up a long connection for the Redskins.
Cousins finally found rhythm in the second quarter, and it carried him through the rest of the game. On an eleven-play, 80-yard drive in the second quarter, Cousins feared no defense that the Broncos could throw at him, completing a well-timed timing route against Aqib Talib to Ryan Grant before hitting him again on the very next play, cutting through the heart of the ‘No-Fly Zone’ for 32 yards. Cousins would hit tight end and former Bronco Vernon Davis for a first down — his fourth straight completion on the drive — but a perfectly thrown pass into a tight window was dropped by Doctson in the end zone ended that completion streak and stalled the Redskins’ drive, which finished with a field goal.
Cousins’ mobility was on full display all game long. But while mobility is one thing, keeping your view downfield is another. Cousins extended plays when he needed to, putting spying Bronco linebackers in the tough position of attempting to cover releasing pass-catchers, but also containing the mobile Cousins himself.
Cousins extended drives on the following five-play, 38-yard drive in the second quarter, ending in a 15-yard touchdown to Jamison Crowder; a quick slant in the red zone that split Bradley Roby and Todd Davis for the easy score. Cousins delivered a sharp throw that was on time and on target.
Cousins would finish the first half 8-for-19, throwing for 97 yards and a touchdown. he did not turn the ball over and was not sacked in the half, opting instead for short passes to slow the Broncos’ pass rush down.
After halftime, Cousins began to catch fire, completing four passes on Washington’s initial drive. His zip on the football was apparent on the drive, however Cousins will want his pass into the end zone back, as he stared down his wide receiver Doctson and threw into double-coverage, with the pass easily intercepted by ball-hawking safety Will Parks.
Cousins would rebound from the turnover in an impressive nine play, 55-yard drive with darts to Crowder and Doctson. That zip on Cousins passes continued, who had a second potential touchdown missed, as a line drive bounced off Doctson’s outstretched hand in the end zone.
But it was only a matter of time before Cousins would break the game open. Cousins found a cluster in the Broncos defense and took advantage of a miscommunication, nailing a 48-yard touchdown pass to Doctson to break the game open. Cousins motioned his wide receivers into a bunch formation on the right side that confused both Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Both stayed low as Doctson broke down the right sideline and found himself wide open for an easy touchdown.
Cousins finished the game with a statement throw, dropping a touchdown pass to Davis right over the coverage in the final five minutes in the fourth quarter. Cousins’ 31-yard touchdown was right in the face of pressure and put a stamp on yet another game that the Broncos would rather forget.
Cousins finished the game 19-for-37, throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns and finishing with a robust quarterback rating of 94.3.
On the whole, while facing a very strong Broncos pass defense, Cousins made throws when he needed to. He stood tall in the pocket despite strong pressure from Denver and was never was fazed by turnovers. The Redskins never managed an effective run game to accent Cousins’ passing, as Washington only rushed for 3.0 yards per carry.
Cousins also played effectively against the ‘No-Fly Zone’ with wide receivers who aren’t exactly household names. Cousins threw completions to eight different receivers, including Niles Paul, Jeremy Sprinkle, Dustin Hopkins and former CSU running back Kapri Bibbs.
This ability to make plays and produce on offense with a lack of dominant offensive weapons around him only further reinforces Cousins repuation as a big-time playmaker and franchise-caliber quarterback that can elevates the play of others; even unproven commodities.
If Cousins showed anything today to Bronco fans, it’s that he can continually make plays against a premiere defense, and even in the face of mistakes. He can be the face of a franchise; putting games on his shoulders — something that Denver hasn’t seen since Peyton Manning ride off into the sunset.
