Making his first start in place of Robert Griffin III, who has been shut down to preserve his health during a lost season, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins showed he might be a backup in name only Week 15 at Atlanta. Granted, he was facing a Falcons defense that has struggled in every facet, but he had the best passing performance of any Redskins quarterback this season, completing 29 of 45 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns.
He showed off his arm on the first two, hitting tight end Fred Davis on a 23-yard screamer in the first quarter and leading wide receiver Pierre Garcon past the secondary on a 53-yard catch-and-run in the second. The third came with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, when he connected with wide receiver Santana Moss on what would have been the game-tying score if the Redskins hadn't made a failed attempt at a two-point conversion.
Cousins did show his inexperience when the Falcons blitzed, though, making several off-balance, ill-advised throws -- two of which resulted in interceptions. He also lost a fumble on the Falcons' only sack.
The second-year quarterback will try to keep it going Week 16 against the Cowboys.