ASHBURN, Va. -- It would be wrong to blame Monday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. It would not be wrong to think he could have done more to help them win.
This wasn’t about stats: Cousins’ numbers were solid as he posted a 101.4 passer rating. But that also shows how unreliable that statistic can be, because it suggests a terrific game. That wasn’t the case as it does not factor in some missed chances.
But also keep in mind that Cousins led two scoring drives at the end of the half and the game for 10 of their 16 points. He completed nine-of-12 passes on third downs, converting five into firsts (they had five third downs where they needed at least 10 yards). Cousins didn't lift the play of others and played a rather pedestrian game, but the main issue offensively remains the running game.
Here’s a little look at his game overall:
Throw I liked: The completion to Pierre Garcon on third-and-14. For starters, the line gave him time to throw against a three-man rush. Cousins looked middle, right, middle, left and back to the middle where he saw Garcon break over the middle for a first-down catch. The throw was a little behind Garcon, but give Cousins credit for hanging in the pocket and finding him. Also liked the 23-yard gain to Garcon when Cousins hit him in stride; well-designed play cleared out the middle. There were a couple bad throws in the game, sometimes with poor footwork. But other times he kept plays alive, sliding outside or scrambling with his eyes still downfield.
Throw I almost liked: This one looked a little dangerous initially, but I credit Dallas cornerback Mo Claiborne for a good play. But Cousins nearly connected with Reed down the left seam. It was a very tight window and Reed got his hands on the ball. But Claiborne, aligned to the outside with Matt Jones in his area, cheated a little to the inside paying more attention to Reed. With Reed a favorite target, perhaps in that situation it might have been better to have a different receiving option alongside Reed, just to keep Claiborne from paying more attention to the tight end. He’s the one who knocked the ball loose.
Missed chance: This one had to bug Cousins and the coaches. On a third-and-7 in the fourth quarter, Jackson had a half-step on cornerback Brandon Carr with no safety over the top. Not sure why, but Cousins seemed to look there, but did not make the throw, instead dumping to the right for Chris Thompson and a two-yard gain, setting up a missed field goal. For those wanting more downfield throws, the Redskins did go deep on two other occasions, both incomplete, to Garcon and Jackson. Both were in one-on-one situations to the outside, and both were missed by less than a yard.
Second chance: Cousins, of course, did go back to Jackson with a perfect ball for the 28-yard touchdown. It wasn’t the same play; this time Jackson ran a go route from the No. 2 receiver position (the middle of three wideouts on the right side).Jackson released to the outside and, with the safety aligned on the left hash (where the ball had been placed), there was no help.
Missed chance, part 11: On a first-and-10 in the second quarter, Jamison Crowder was in the slot to the left. His man blitzed, leaving him solo with the safety. Crowder gains leverage and a shot was there, but Cousins threw to Jackson on that side for seven yards. They still got a field goal, but Crowder had a step.
Against tendencies: The Redskins gained 20 yards on a bootleg pass to Crowder, thanks in part to breaking tendency. They had Tom Compton at tight end and Ryan Grant at receiver. In the past two games, that has meant run on 12 of their 15 plays (and 18 out of 27 for the season), according to ESPN Stats & Information. That’s one reason both safeties were within eight yards before the snap (dropping to a single-high look afterward). Two linebackers ran with Reed as he crossed to his left, leaving a gap for Crowder, against man coverage, on the bootleg. Earlier in the half, the Redskins threw with both Grant and Compton in the game on a bootleg to the left, hitting Reed for 16 yards.
Not sure about: A third-and-17 in the first half on which Cousins looked at Reed the whole way and then threw incomplete on an out route. If Reed had caught the ball, he would have been tackled well short of a first down. On the other side, Garcon ran a deep-in and was open at the 32-yard line for a first down. Now, I don’t know if Garcon should have been part of the progression or not (not every receiver is on every play; there were three targets to the left). If not, against this coverage they might want to add him or at least peek his way.
Red Weasel Media RWM was there to capture the Monday Night Football MNF magic.