Washington pulls away, clinches division
Cousins throws four TD passes in win
REDSKINS 38, EAGLES 24
PHILADELPHIA — It was fitting that the champion of the imperfect NFC East was crowned Saturday night in a game that will be remembered for the points unscored by both teams.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for four touchdowns, and safety DeAngelo Hall added another as the Washington Redskins overcame a costly quarterback gaffe late in the first half to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-24.
With the victory, the Redskins (8-7) won the NFC East for the first time since 2012 and only the second time in the past 16 seasons.
Saturday’s victory, and the turnaround it represented for a struggling franchise that had won just seven games in the previous two seasons, was a vindication of coach Jay Gruden’s decision to put his offense in the hands of Cousins, convinced his upside outweighed the sketchy résumé the quarterback had compiled over three seasons of spot duty in relief of Robert Griffin III.
After starting the season 2-4, Washington has now won four of its past five and will finish at least .500.
Cousins finished 31 of 46 for 356 yards and four touchdowns — including a pair to tight end Jordan Reed, who eclipsed the single-season record for receiving yards by a Redskins tight end in the process.
Washington’s offense outgained Philadelphia’s quickstrike attack 418 yards to 398. Neither team ran the ball with authority. Washington rushed for 67 yards; Philadelphia, 45.
And the Redskins defense frustrated quarterback Sam Bradford all night, with rookie Preston Smith sacking him three times. Bradford was 37 of 56 for 380 yards and one touchdown.
But Saturday’s victory was in question throughout the game’s early going — and never more so than after the costly gaffe by Cousins. With six seconds remaining in the first half, a six-point lead and the ball on the 6, the Redskins’ safest play would have been to kick a field goal. Gruden wanted to take a shot at scoring a touchdown, however, so he called for a fade to wide receiver Pierre Garcon in the end zone.
Inexplicably, Cousins kneeled instead, which squandered the remaining seconds, ended the period and baffled Gruden, as well as everyone on the field, in the stands and watching on TV.
The Redskins took a 16-10 lead into halftime, but it felt as if the momentum belonged to the Eagles.
It’s the first time since 1999 that the Redskins have locked up a playoff berth before the final week of the season. Picked by most prognosticators to finish last in the division, the Redskins are an improbable playoff team. They will host a playoff game Jan. 9 or 10.
They’ve clinched a spot in the postseason without beating a single team that currently has a winning record.