The Washington Redskins are in control of the NFC East and it is because of the improvement of Kirk Cousins. The quarterback has the team moving in the right direction as the playoffs are very realistic for the team. Cousins is getting a lot of the credit for the recent stretch of wins, but DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed are doing everything they can to make his job easier. With a showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles approaching, Reed and Jackson will be critical.
A win in Week 16 gets the Redskins a playoff berth. Beating the Eagles will not be easy, but the chemistry between Cousins, Jackson and Reed is hitting an all-time high right now which could make this game easy. After an inconsistent start to the year following a hamstring injury, Jackson put up six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. That was huge for Cousins who finished the day with four scores and 319 yards. Week 16 is big for Jackson who is looking to knock his former team off and could play a big part in it with the way he is playing.
"In my eyes, I already think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year," Jackson said, via ESPN980. "I'll say once again, I'm excited about the new additions that [have] come in. Really, we just have to kind of build a camaraderie. So once the season starts and we're ahead full speed, I think we're gonna surprise a lot of people, and a lot of people are really gonna be saying, 'Wow, those guys are pretty good.'"
The same can be said about Jordan Reed who is quickly looking like one of the best tight ends in the league. Reed put up 84 yards off seven catches for two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. According to ESPN.com, Andre Roberts is heading to injured reserve which will make Reed even more important. The tight end along with Pierre Garcon will be the top two targets outside of Jackson in Week 16.
The rise of the receivers has helped Cousins develop into a true pro quarterback. He continues to answer doubters each week as he fights for a new contract in 2016. Cousins is playing on an expiring deal. According to Mike Jones via Washington Post, the Redskins plan on re-signing Cousins to a new contract, but determining the worth is the biggest issue. The Redskins have to figure out what kind of multi-year deal the quarterback is worth and whether or not they can afford it. With Robert Griffin III still on the payroll, Cousins might have to agree to a franchise tag before signing a long-term deal in 2017.
