Earlier this week, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden announced that he hopes the team can keep quarterback Kirk Cousins on the team for a long time.
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This year hasn’t always been pretty for Washington’s fourth-round pick from the same draft, but Cousins enjoyed his best game as a pro last week against New Orleans’ hapless defense.
The 33-point margin of victory for the Redskins (4-5) was the team’s largest since beating San Francisco by 35, 52-17, in October 2005.
Sean Payton said it was “obviously, a poor performance”. “It’s tough. You think you’re back, and then you get offset again with something like this”. “That’s what that position is all about”.
– The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Michael Phillips says the Redskins are preparing themselves for meaningful November and December games. “We’re capable of doing this'”. Panthers have won 13 straight regular-season games and are 9-0 for first time in franchise history….Panthers have scored at least 27 points in seven straight games….
But Carolina has struggled at the sportsbooks when favoured by five or more points, going 1-4-1 ATS but a flawless 6-0 SU, and have enjoyed success against Washington, going 4-1 SU in their last five meetings according to the OddsShark NFL Database, covering the spread in their last two. In those four games, Cousins has completed 107 of 138 passes, or 77.5 percent, for 1,134 yards with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Both of those areas could present problems for Washington.
-Panthers pass rush, which is tied for sixth in the league with 26 sacks, vs. Redskins passing offense, which has given up 12 sacks, tied for second fewest in the league.
Punter Brad Nortman has averaged 45.6 yards on 45 punts through nine games. Newton added 82 carries for 366 rushing yards (4.5 avg.) with six rushing touchdowns. Jonathan Stewart also had a big game with 91 yards and a TD on 22 attempts.
Newton’s dual-threat ability has been pivotal in the red zone, where the Panthers have been among the league’s most improved teams this season.
“We’re scoring touchdowns instead of field goals, ” offensive coordinator Mike Shula said. “[It’s] just a matter of building this thing, continue to try to find a consistent approach to our Sunday afternoons, and so far, 4-5 is not great, but it’s in a good position where we’re competing for the division title….”
Matt Jones has emerged as a better fantasy start option over Alfred Morris in recent weeks and owners should consider using him in Week 11.
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“We were clicking there in the run game”, said tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had four catches for a season-low 47 yards.
