The city of Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love, and that love certainly extends to Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.
In four career games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Cousins has averaged 336 passing yards per game, has thrown for 10 touchdowns and has just two interceptions. That’s more passing yards per game than any other franchise Cousins has faced, and his 10 total touchdowns are more than any other franchise has allowed the 28-year-old quarterback to throw.
Don’t bring those numbers up to Cousins himself. He doesn’t believe there is any sort of consistency between himself and his success against the Eagles. He believes that the Eagles’ defense is beginning to find it’s groove against him.
“I just think that each game you see what can happen and you never know,” Cousins said. “So I think there’s starting to become a familiarity from both sides. I think they’re starting to figure me out and I’m starting to learn more about them as individual players. So that always counts for something as you get more familiar and that will be a challenge as they start to learn my play better and better.”
In Cousins’ most recent matchup against the Eagles, which came in Week 6, Cousins threw for 263 yards, two touchdowns in an interception. The matchup was Cousins’ least-productive game against the Philadelphia franchise.
But Cousins has been on a tear in recent weeks, throwing for 1,815 yards and 11 touchdowns in his last five games.
It’s a level of production that the Eagles are taking notice of, and the game may boil down to which side produces more: the Eagles pass rush or Cousins ability to get passes off.
The Redskins’ offensive line is littered with injuries. Center Spencer Long (concussion) has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game, while both Shawn Lauvao (groin) and Ty Nsekhe (ankle) are questionable. The offensive line will look very different from the last game against the Arizona Cardinals, especially since left tackle Trent Williams returns from suspension and center Kory Lichtensteiger potentially returns from the injured reserve list. Should Lauvao not be able to suit up, Arie Kouandjio would start in his place.
The Eagles’ front seven will likely be licking their chops at the changes. Philadelphia boasts so many defensive weapons on their pass rush, including defensive ends Connor Barwin, Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
Redskins’ offensive coordinator Sean McVay isn’t particularly concerned if the Redskins are forced to field a different offensive line. He says that each of his offensive lineman are ready to play at any given moment. He also said that depending on who is in, certain schemes may be leaned on a bit more.
“We have confidence in the guys that if some of those guys that are backups need to step up and be ready to roll, you obviously want to be smart with what you are doing in terms of some of the protection schemes that we’ll utilize and which matchups we would try and emphasize and how we want to go about that, but the flow of the game always dictates kind of the response that we have,” McVay said.
Cousins also stressed the importance of his offensive line’s depth.
“It’s a big part of the game, especially when you’re going against a front-four like we are against the Eagles that can really rush the passer, that really don’t have a weakness,” Cousins said. “You need five guys, and preferably six or seven, who can really play.”
But Cousins himself can help out the offensive line with his decision making skills. Cox pointed out one key trait Cousins has begun to pick up, and it will only benefit the Redskins’ offensive line while depleting the effectiveness of the Eagles’ pass rush.
“I think as of now he’s making a lot of quick decisions,” Cox said. “He’s not taking a lot of sacks. He’s getting rid of the ball. He’s taking what the defense is giving him, and when a guy is doing that, I mean, you’re not taking a lot of sacks. I think he’s been sacked like 12 or 13 times this year (note, Cousins has been sacked 16 times this year), and that means he’s getting the ball off and they’re doing a great job up front blocking for him.”
This is the key to the matchup, how well the offensive line can battle against a fierce pass rush and how well Cousins can move the ball.
The 6-5-1 Redskins play the 5-7 Eagles this Sunday at 1:00 p.m.. Washington currently sits half a game out of the second wild card spot behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meaning every one of the Redskins’ next four games becomes must-win situations.
The Redskins will enter a loud and rowdy atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Stadium. But that’s what makes these divisional games fun for Cousins.
“The entire NFC East really is unique in that sense of how many historic teams and fan bases you have,” Cousins said. “No place on the road in the NFL is easy, but Philly is right up there with anyone. That’s why our communication, our preparation, our chemistry has to be really sharp and tight, because if it’s not, usually when you’re playing on the road, you get exposed.”
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