Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Kirk Cousins told us last week that it was “well-documented” how much talent he has at his disposal as the quarterback of this Washington Redskins offense.
“It has been well-documented how much talent there is and not just talent but experience,” he told reporters.
Cousins must have left those documents at Redskins Park — at least the ones that lead to touchdowns.
The Steelers wore down a game Redskins defense that got no help from Cousins and his talent-laden offense in a 38-16 season opening Monday Night Football Washington loss at FedEx Field.
If you are keeping score, it was Washington’s sixth straight loss to Pittsburgh. They haven’t beaten the Steelers since the 1991 Super Bowl championship season. No wonder Pittsburgh fans love to come to Washington watch their team play. They don’t lose.
Cousins told you that last week when he said simply but accurately of the Steelers, “They play very, very hard … I have a lot of respect for their defense and they’ll present a great challenge.”
But I’m not sure if it was Pittsburgh that presented the challenge for Cousins Monday night or if it was the moment — a long-anticipated Monday night game against a perennial winner. Cousins wasn’t up to the moment.
Cousins was unable to translate that talent into touchdowns when he was handed several opportunities early in the game by, of all things, the Redskins defense. Cousins produced just two field goals on two possessions, one of which came after a Bashaud Breeland interception.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks for an opening to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (Mark Tenally/AP Photo)
Roethlisberger only dealt in touchdowns, though — two in the first half, one coming on a fourth and one when he completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown (he would add another one in the third quarter, a 26-yard scoring pass to Brown), and the second coming on a deflected three-yard pass to Eli Rogers, after Pittsburgh made good on another fourth-and-one play, a 17-yard completion to Rogers, as Pittsburgh took a 14-6 lead in the lockerroom at halftime.
The last scoring drive of that half was a 14-play, 57-yard beat down that lasted nearly six minutes. Pittsburgh continued to dominate in the third quarter, opening up a 24-9 lead and perhaps driving home the difference between an elite quarterback and a quarterback who got paid thanks to the franchise tag.
It must pain Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan to entertain the possibility that he may be right about Cousins — a good quarterback, but not in the class of the elite, like a Roethlisberger, and perhaps not worth long-term elite money.
This was just one game, but the contrast between Roethlisberger and Cousins was glaring. Cousins, who had the entire off season — workouts, mini camp, training camp and preseason — to prepare for this home opener, seemed to pick up right where he left off the last time we saw him at FedEx Field in the 35-18 loss to Green Bay. He did little to answer his critics, or questions about his ability to lead this talented offense against a quality team like the Steelers.
Cousins opened the game looking sharp — at least when it came to one receiver. On the opening drive, Cousins hit Jordan Reed with a 12-yard pass, a 14-yard completion, then another 13-yarder. But Washington had to punt after coming up short.
On Washington’s second drive, Cousins had a 31-yard completion to DeSean Jackson on a drive that would give Washington a 3-0 lead on a 31-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal. It was a timely play, because the best way to silence the away fans that fill your home stadium is for you to score first.
Yes, the Steelers fans were out in force. During television time outs, the video screen would attempt to show Redskins fans waving their burgundy and gold towels that were handed out free by the team. But in those shots they were often outnumbered by Pittsburgh fans waving the Steelers Terrible Towels, and by the end of the game, Steelers chants filled the stadium, with Terrible Towels flying everywhere.
Kevin Durant was in attendance, introduced during a time out with other local Olympians — but he didn’t have to worry about being booed for spurning his hometown Washington Wizards in free agency. There were probably more Pittsburgh Piper fans in the stadium than Wizards fans.
Perhaps Cousins’ best moments came early in the fourth quarter, when Washington went to the no-huddle offense and he moved them down the field 77 yards on seven plays in just over two minutes, leading to a one-yard Chris Thompson touchdown run.
But Roethlisberger methodically picked the Washington defense apart again, resulting in a touchdown jaunt by DeAngelo Williams (26 carries, 143 yards) to seal the 31-16 Steelers win.
Cousins ended the game with an end zone interception by 60-year-old James Harrison.
Cousins’ line? Zero touchdowns, two interceptions.
Roethlisberger? Three touchdowns, one interception.
One was a surgeon — the other an overmatched medical student. And surgeons get paid.
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