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NFL Playoffs: Five reasons Washington Redskins won’t win NFC East

By John Buhler

Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) carries the ball past New York Giants middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley (53) in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) carries the ball past New York Giants middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley (53) in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 8, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) makes a pass during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) makes a pass during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins has done a better-than-expected job replacing former franchise quarterback Robert Griffin, III as the team’s starter. Cousins has illustrated in his first year as the full-time starter of the Redskins that he can both win games for the team, as well as lose them.

Though Cousins comes from a strong university of NFL quarterback producers at Michigan State, he’s had a reputation of becoming a pick machine in pressure-packed situations. Cousins may be getting better at taking care of the football when the game is on the line, but Washington is about to play five immensely important games for the franchise, in bad weather nonetheless.

Perhaps Cousins may have finally shaken out the interception bug in 2015, throwing only 10 interceptions in 11 games. His interception per pass percentage is way down from his erratic past (only 2.6% in 2015).

However, he is about to play his next four games in cold weather (twice at home, @Chicago, and @Philadelphia) and that does not bode well for someone who has thrown more interceptions (29) than he has played games in the NFL (25). Again, recent history isn’t kind to Kirk Cousins with making the accurate pass to his teammates. He may have outgrown the interceptions, but he’s still good for about one a game anyway.

Next: 4. Tom Coughlin

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