MARK MY WORDS: SKINS BEAT COWBOYS, 34–23

By Mark Bacon

Following are words I never thought I would be writing in early January, this past September. . . There is an inescapable truth about the Washington Redskins’ QB, Kirk Cousins. Lately, he has been playing as well as any QB in the NFL.

• Today Cousins capped a brilliant regular season with three first-half touchdowns, sets a team passing record and Washington heads into playoffs on four-game winning streak. And averted a season’s sweep by their most reviled foe — The Cowboys. Next weekend is an NFL playoff appearance no one saw coming, especially me.

• The Skins issued a strong statement from the beginning of the game. After a 2-4 start to the season, Washington wasn’t taking the afternoon off. Besides, 9–7 looks better than 8–8.

• Cousins led three consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter to stake the Skins to a 21-0 lead. With his 12th completion, Cousins set a single-season record for passing yards by a Redskins quarterback (4,166 yards).He had a close-to-impeccable outing — 12 of 15 for 176 yards and three touchdowns. 

• Skeptics may not be convinced, feeling Washington is merely the beneficiary of playing in the NFL’s weakest division, The NFL Least. The Skins earned their playoff spot without beating a team that currently has a winning record. But their winning streak has convinced an already unified locker room that it has the tools it needs to make a statement in the postseason.

• ‘You like that.’ Kirk Cousins didn’t get hurt. But the Skins didn’t escape Dallas completely injury-free; their secondary took a beating. Kyshoen Jarrett was ruled out with a neck and shoulder stinger after making a tackle in the first quarter. Reserve cornerback Dashaun Phillips was carted off the field on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury in the second quarter. Both injuries were caused by helmet-to-helmet hits with Cowboys running back Darren McFadden. As Phillips was carried off, tasteless Dallas fans did “The Wave.” 

• Will Compton picked off Kellen Moore on Dallas’ third possession, prompting Fox play-by-play man Chris Myers to declare the takeaway “Straight Outta Compton.” 

• Entering the game, Washington had scored one touchdown off a turnover all season, back in Week 6 against the Jets. On Sunday, they scored two in four minutes.

What’s next? If the Vikings win, the Redskins will face the Packers. If the Packers and Seahawks win, the Redskins will face the Seahawks. If the Packers and Cardinals win, the Redskins will face the Vikings.

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