Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for four touchdowns, and safety DeAngelo Hall added another as the Washington Redskins overcame the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24. Washington’s offense outgained Philadelphia’s 418 yards to 398, and won the NFC East Title.
The Skins won the NFC East for the first time since 2012 and only the second time in the past 16 seasons.
- As division champs, Washington will host a playoff game Jan. 9 or 10, with Seattle (9-5), Green Bay (10-4) or Minnesota (9-5) their likely opponent.
- The victory, and the turnaround it represented for a franchise that had won just seven games the previous two seasons, was a vindication of Coach Jay Gruden’s decision to run his offense with QB Kirk Cousins, convinced his upside outweighed the sketchy résumé Cousins compiled over the past three seasons of spot duty in relief of Robert “Bob” Griffin III.
- It also validated Scot McCloughan’s first season as Redskins general manager. Particularly, the tough-nosed identity he instilled through his draft picks and free agent acquisitions.
- After starting this season 2-4, Washington has now won four of its past five and is assured of finishing at least .500. With the Jan. 3 regular season finale remaining, the Skins have won more games this season (eight) than they did the past two seasons combined (seven).
- Cousins finished 31 of 46 for 356 yards and four touchdowns — including two strikes to tight end Jordan Reed, who set a new single-season record for receiving yards by a Redskins tight end in the process.
- To open the second half, Cousins drove the Redskins 54 yards, firing a 12-yard strike to running back Chris Thompson to get his team back on track.
- “I’m very proud of Kirk,” said Gruden, “We had the debacle at the end of the half. A normal guy could have gone in the tank there. But he kept his composure — just like he has all year, just like he has his whole career — kept his nose to the grindstone, kept battling and competing.” Cousins has now thrown 26 touchdowns to 11 interceptions this season.
- The Eagles did counter, with DeMarco Murray carrying four yards for a touchdown that made the score 23-17.
- Philly fans were still celebrating when Murray fumbled on Philadelphia’s next drive and veteran safety DeAngelo Hall scooped up the ball and run it 17 yards for a touchdown, extending Washington’s lead to 30-17.
- Cousins’s fourth strike, to Garçon, 8 minutes 55 seconds remaining, and a subsequent two-point conversion, to compensate for a missed extra point earlier in the game, made it 38-17.
- It’s the first time since 1999 the Skins have locked up a playoff berth before the end of the regular season. Picked by most pundits to finish last in the division, the Skins are an improbable playoff team.
- They have clinched a spot in the postseason without beating a single team that currently has a winning record. And after losing 14 players — more than one-fourth of a 53-man NFL roster — to season-ending injury.
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