Kirk Cousins
courtesy of Keith Allison
When Robert Griffin got knocked to the turf on a 13 yard scramble the hearts of Washington area football fan collectively stopped. The Redskins were in need of a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie, and all season long RGIII has been the shining beacon of hope. Griffin’s uniform was covered in mud from the beating the Ravens defense had laid upon him all day long. The Ravens knew about Griffin’s speed and his dynamic ability to make something happen so they treated him accordingly. They leaned on him. Griffin got the Redskins off to a fast start, but the Ravens defense was able to recover while their offense responded, and from then on they made it a long day for RGIII.
Every chance the Ravens had to lay a hand on Griffin they took it, knocking him to the ground, bumping him as he released the ball. They treated him how a slower fighter would treat a faster one, pushing him against the ropes and trying to take the air out of him, hitting him with body shot after body shot until his legs were jelly. Then it happened. Griffin was down and slow to get up, and when he did he headed to the sidelines for Kirk Cousins to come in. Cousins was in for all of one play while RGIII caught his breathe and became aware of his surroundings.
Then it was back to work for RGIII. He completed a 15 yard pass to Santana Moss and a 22 yarder to Garcon before he looked lost as he threw to no one for an intentional grounding penalty. It was time for this game to be handed to Kirk Cousins, and like the fresh man in a wrestling tag match of old Cousins received the hot tag and cleaned house. Cousins finished off the drive that RGIII started with a 15 yard pass to Hankerson that took the Redskins down to the Ravens 11. Then it happened. As soon as the ball was snapped Ravens defenders came busting through. RGIII would have had the athleticism to escape and extend the play, but Kirk Cousins surprised everyone by doing his best RGIII impression. He rolled right and dumped the ball over the defenders hands into the waiting arms of Pierre Garcon.
The drive wasn’t finished though. The Redskins had gotten the touchdown, but still needed the two-point conversion. If RGIII were in the game there is almost no question it would be a QB draw, but with Cousins that play was off the table or so everyone assumed. The play the Redskins would have called for RGIII they called for Cousins and he delivered. In downright unbelievable and unexpected fashion the Redskins tied the Ravens. They would finish the job in overtime largely due to a 64 yard Crawford punt return that set up a 34 yard Kai Forbath field goal.
In what can be called the best football game played in DC in 20 years the Redskins won. This season has gone from the Redskins looking dead in the water at 3-6 about to open up divisional play to the Redskins ripping off four straight wins to put themselves over .500 for the first time since week one, and firmly in the talks for a playoff spot. And in case anyone was wondering the last time the Redskins won four games in a row was weeks 2-5 in 2008, Jim Zorn’s first season as coach.
