COUSINS’ RALLY CRY CATCHES ON
But will D.C.-area fans like outcome against Packers?
Kirk Cousins has inspired such a phenomenon with his “You Like That?!” expression, the slogan will be printed on thousands of rally towels that will be distributed to fans showing up Sunday for the first playoff game in three years at FedExField. Uh-oh. Talk about added pressure. The now-trademarked catchphrase, which Cousins spontaneously shouted in front of cameras after a comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, has taken a life of its own. It’s cute, maybe even cool.
It’s relevant, too. Cousins has proved so many doubters wrong and Washington coach Jay Gruden so right for picking him over Robert Griffin III as the starting quarterback, producing a phenomenal season that has been the backbone to an NFC East title. Cousins’ in-your-face sound bite captures all of that.
But to put it on a towel? Surely the move of a franchise owned by a marketing whiz but one not used to being here. It’s been a decade since Washington last won a playoff game.
“I think it’s fun to give the fan base something to cheer about,” Cousins said when I asked about the towels after Wednesday’s practice. “I felt like the last couple of years they were dying to cheer for us and we just didn’t give them enough to get behind. So I love the thought of giving our fans something to get behind, something to be proud of.
“I expect it to be a great environment, and just adding those towels and the phrase can only help galvanize our fan base and create a spirit of belief and intensity in that stadium.”
The fourth-year pro from Michigan State says all the right things. Yet this could backfire, too — like some major bulletin board material.
Cousins might be one of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks — he’s thrown 23 TD passes with just three interceptions in the last 10 games — but this towel thing is like playing with a different type of fire.
Imagine what Green Bay Packers pass rushers Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews might want to do with the rally towels.
“People are looking for any edge to use against you,” said former NFL receiver Donte’ Stallworth, who now works for WUSA-TV in Washington.
Stallworth recalled his time with the New England Patriots and how coach Bill Belichick detested even the hint of bulletin board material. That might not be the intent of the rally towels, but perhaps that will be the effect.
Of course, Washington’s first playoff game since RG3’s knee and career took a turn for the worse probably won’t be determined by towels. Playoff experience might be more of a factor, along with execution. Cousins, as much as he’s grown over the course of this season, will be pressed to take his game to a higher level amid playoff intensity, which he hasn’t experienced as a starter.
And oh, by the way, reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback on the other side. Regardless of how much the injurystung Packers have struggled of late, it’s a new season. Washington has averaged nearly 33 points per game during its four-game winning streak, but Rodgers is still capable of engaging in a shootout. Still, Cousins doesn’t want to get caught up in such thoughts.
“It’s very important that I stay within myself, just do what I need to do and what I’m coached to do to help our offense,” he said. “It’s not my job to stop Aaron when he’s on the field, and we’ll see where we are at the end of it. It’s important that we operate well on offense, convert on third downs, score points in the red zone — all of those things that are critical to winning — because of the fact they have such a great quarterback on the other side. If you don’t make good on those opportunities, typically they’ll make you pay.”
Gruden reiterated what he has said all season: Cousins must distribute the football to playmakers and not put too much pressure on himself. He has reliable targets in wideout Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed, and the offense really took off after speed-burner DeSean Jackson returned from his hamstring injury.
Still, Cousins can use more help from a running game averaging just 3.7 yards per carry (30th in the NFL). And the effectiveness he’s demonstrated in calmly reading defenses will face an immense chessboard challenge from the multiple looks that wily Packers coordinator Dom Capers can unveil.
“Kirk will be well prepared,” Washington defensive back DeAngelo Hall maintained. “He understands the sense of urgency. During the course of the season, he’s grown so much as a quarterback and a player, he’ll be fine. He’s one of the last guys we’ll have to worry about come Sunday.”
We’ll see. Washington was blown out in the three games it had against teams with winning records. Now the lights are brighter, but that doesn’t seem to faze Cousins.
“It’s still football,” he said. “It’s a fast game, but it’s always been fast.”
He’s part of an intriguing subplot in the wild-card round. The Minnesota Vikings’ Teddy Bridgewater, the Cincinnati Bengals’ AJ McCarron and the Houston Texans’ Brian Hoyer also are scheduled to make their first playoff starts — and all at home — against teams bringing more accomplished quarterbacks.
Rodgers remembers his first postseason start. He lost a shootout in overtime against the Arizona Cardinals. He threw an interception on the first play. Fumbled on his third snap. Like that, they were down two scores.
“You have to learn how to win in the playoffs,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “When the nerves hit, you’ve got to be able to push on through it. The experience of doing it before definitely helps.”
Cousins got a taste of it when he relieved Griffin in that fateful loss to the Seattle Seahawks three years ago. But maybe the better experience came during this breakout season.
“You have belief in him because he’s done it before,” Garcon said. “You’ve seen the growth and the confidence.”
The knock against Cousins was he would fold with early adversity. Then came comebacks against the Philadelphia Eagles and Bucs. The narrative changed — so much that a rally cry was born.
Bring on the rally towels. They’ll be waved with joy ... or end up wiping away the tears.