Kirk Cousins Has Ended the Quarterback Debate for Washington Redskins

If you still don't think Kirk Cousins is the right quarterback for the Washington Redskins, it might be an idea to follow another team. After an up-and-down beginning to his first season as a starter, Cousins has finally ended the debate about who should be under center for the Burgundy and Gold.

Cousins guided Washington to a 7-7 mark after tossing four touchdowns and running for another in a 35-25 win over the Buffalo Bills at FedEx Field in Week 15.

It's Washington's third win in the last four games and definitive proof of the progress No. 8 has made this season. Whether you're talking efficiency in the pocket, accurate ball placement or mastery of the playbook, Cousins has shown all those things in recent weeks.

Efficiency was the watchword on the Redskins' opening drive as Cousins was perfect dissecting Buffalo's disgruntled defense. Numbers from Mike Jones of the Washington Post summed up that perfection:

The drive ended with yet another Cousins to Jordan Reed hookup. It continued the prolific run currently being enjoyed by 2012's fourth-round pick, per Jones:

When a player produces every week it's a sure sign he's comfortable in the scheme. Cousins is fitting the offense favored by head coach Jay Gruden like a glove. 

He knows where his best matchups are going to be even before he gets the ball in his hands. The best example of that came on the final play of the third quarter.

It was a critical moment in the game. The Bills had ripped off two quick-fire touchdowns to pull to within 11 points at 28-17. After a sack and a penalty, Cousins faced 3rd-and-16.

Surveying the Buffalo defense, he would have seen the Bills preparing to double DeSean Jackson on one side of the field. With Reed likely to draw a crowd over the middle, Cousins knew Pierre Garcon would be his best read.

After looking off the coverage, he zipped a pass between the eights on Garcon's jersey.

It was the type of decisive read and strike big-time quarterbacks make. Cousins isn't quite there yet, but he's already a record-breaker for the Redskins, as Jones noted:

This wasn't the only milestone he reached on the day. By the end of the opening quarter, Cousins had equalled another franchise mark he would later break, according to 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen:

The next third down Cousins faced after hitting Garcon was a 3rd-and-6 at midfield. He beat a Bills blitz off both slots to connect with rookie Jamison Crowder, whom Cousins had instantly diagnosed as his hot read.

In the red zone, he lofted a gorgeous fade Garcon's way for his fourth scoring pass of the day. The ball was dropped where only Washington's franchise record-holder for receptions in a single season could make a play.

These were clutch throws that denied Buffalo's comeback bid and preserved the W for the Burgundy and Gold. It's what every team wants and needs from its quarterback.

It's also what Gruden felt he was never going to get from Robert Griffin III. In fairness to RG3, he was already a pretty limited quarterback but a lethal weapon when running the read-option. The injuries that robbed him of his mobility set his career development dial back to zero.

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Gruden didn't have the patience to wait for the player the Redskins traded the farm for in 2012 to catch up. Maybe he felt he couldn't wait after going 4-12 as a rookie head coach in 2014.

But even Gruden couldn't have known Griffin's replacement would make strides this big in his first year as a starter. After all, this was a quarterback most often defined by his penchant for putting the ball in the hands of the opposition.

Cutting back on the turnovers is the clearest indicator of Cousins' rapid development this season. Another tweet from Paulsen helps chart the recent reduction in Cousins' mistakes:

Of course there are mitigating factors assisting Cousins' leap forward. For one thing, greater balance in the play-calling makes for a more effective quarterback.

The Redskins ran the ball 31 times and threw 33 passes in last week's road win over the Chicago Bears. Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay called 27 running plays against the Bills, while Cousins aired it out 28 times.

Balance keeps a defense guessing, especially a unit operating a scheme as chic as the one called by Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan. A steady diet of running from Alfred Morris and Matt Jones meant the Bills couldn't go to their designer sub-package blitzes as often as they'd like.

A defense playing a guessing game is a passive one, a unit susceptible to the kind of play-action, rollout passes the Redskins specialize in. It also helps Cousins that his passes are aimed for one of the better receiving corps in the NFL.

Not only can Reed and Garcon pose mismatches for any defense, deep threat Jackson is an instant route to a big play at any moment. Factor in Crowder's promising first year, along with the development of Ryan Grant, and Cousins is spoiled for choice, as Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch pointed out:

Yet it isn't just the talent of his pass-catchers that's helping Cousins out. How those prolific receivers are being used is giving him the chance to expand his game and show new skills.

For instance, the Redskins pushed the ball vertically more often against the Bills. It was a key component of the game plan, according to ESPN.com's John Keim:

The deeper strikes have been part of an approach based on more passing on early downs. This is no longer a pedestrian offense built for a safety first, dink-and-dunk approach. Instead, it's a more proactive, attack-minded scheme that challenges the quarterback to win games.

Cousins is answering that challenge.

In the process, he's given Gruden what he always wanted. Namely, an accurate, pocket-based passer sharp enough to carve up defenses in a variety of ways.

A talented contingent of skill players are all thriving and getting their hands on the ball. Meanwhile, the running game is finding more inviting rushing lanes to exploit. It's how this offense can work when there's competent play under center.

With the lead in the NFC East, owning the hottest quarterback in the division may be enough to ensure a first playoff berth since Griffin's rookie year.

In a quarterback-driven league, and one still woefully short of many good ones, the Redskins can't let Cousins enter free agency this offseason. He's settled the debate once and for all. He's this team's best bet at quarterback.

Statistics and player information via NFL.com, unless otherwise stated.

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