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 So after Cousins led Washington to a 24-21 win over the Chicago
Bears on Sunday, he avoided making any major pronouncements about
what the victory represented for himself and his team.
"I've had games where people want to run me out of town," Cousins
said with a smile. "The next week, we win, and I'm the greatest
thing since sliced bread. I just keep trying to grow and build on
each experience I have, whether it's positive or negative, and trust
that if I do that good things will happen."
After a long drought, good things finally happened to the Redskins
on the road. Washington (6-7) snapped a nine-game road losing streak
and earned its first win away from home since Oct. 27, 2014.
Cousins completed 24 of 31 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown and
rushed for another touchdown. Redskins tight end Jordan Reed hauled
in nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown to lead all receivers.
"We have everything that we want still in front of us," Washington
coach Jay Gruden said. "It keeps us alive. It keeps our heart
beating, heart pumping. Guys should be excited to come back to work
Monday."
In the opposite locker room, Chicago (5-8) struggled to find answers
after another narrow defeat. The Bears' past five losses have come
by single digits.
Chicago coach John Fox said a slow start ultimately cost his team.
"All I know is you have to work harder and get better," Fox said.
"It's not lack of effort, it's not lack of want to. We are in
positions to have an opportunity to win games and we just come up
short."
The score was even at 21 when kicker Dustin Hopkins drilled a
47-yard field goal to put Washington ahead 24-21 with 14:07
remaining in the fourth quarter.
Chicago's comeback attempt fizzled when kicker Robbie Gould missed a
50-yard field goal attempt with 1:40 to go. Gould had enough
distance on the kick but missed wide right.
"It comes down to one play," said Gould, who also missed a potential
game-winning field goal one week ago against San Francisco. "My
teammates rely on me. And the last two weeks, I just haven't got it
done."
The Redskins built upon a 14-7 halftime lead with a touchdown on
their first possession of the second half. Cousins hit Reed on a
crossing route for a 5-yard score that made it 21-7.
Reed surpassed 100 receiving yards for the first time this season
and the third time in his career.
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"He's a problem for a lot of people," Gruden said. "In man to man,
he's very good against a linebacker, safety or nickel. In zone, he's
very good at reading zones and sitting down. He's a friendly target,
quite frankly. He has been good for us."
Chicago rallied with a pair of touchdowns to even the score at 21
late in the third quarter. Cutler connected with tight end Zach
Miller for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 remaining in the third
quarter. Less than three minutes later, running back Matt Forte
scored on a 7-yard run.
Washington opened the scoring when running back Alfred Morris pushed
across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:30 remaining
in the first quarter. Morris' first touchdown of the season capped a
marathon 15-play, 80-yard scoring drive that chewed 8:30 off the
clock.
Cousins increased the Redskins' lead to 14-0 on a 3-yard run with
14:19 to go in the second quarter.
The Bears pulled within 14-7 when Cutler found wide receiver Alshon
Jeffery for a 20-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the
first half.
Cutler finished 19 for 31 for 315 yards, two touchdowns and no
interceptions.
Cousins said he and his teammates earned the win on the road.
"It's not an easy thing to do," Cousins said. "It felt like it took
the whole team. It took special teams plays, defensive plays,
offensive plays. It took a lot of different guys making plays and
contributing to find a way."
NOTES: Bears WR Eddie Royal returned to the starting lineup after
missing the previous five games because of a knee injury. ...
Redskins TE Derek Carrier limped off the field and did not return
after injuring his right knee in the first quarter. ... Bears LB
Willie Young registered a sack for the fourth consecutive game. ...
Redskins RB Pierre Thomas made his team debut two days after signing
a free-agent deal. Thomas replaced RB Chris Thompson, who missed the
game because of a shoulder injury. ... Bears S Antrel Rolle (knee)
missed his fourth consecutive game and his sixth game of the season.
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