Team Notes week 15 2016

By Bob Harris
Bob Harris<

NEWS, NOTES, RUMORS AND OTHER GOOD STUFF

Directly from the desk of FlashUpdate Editor Bob Harris. The good; the bad; and yes. ... Even the Bears. There is no better way to jump start your weekend than browsing these always educational -- often irreverent -- team-by-team, Fantasy-specific offerings. ...
Access specific teams by clicking on a team name in the schedule appearing directly to your left or by clicking on a helmet below; return to the helmets by hitting the link labeled "Menu" following each teams notes. ...

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Arizona Cardinals

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Kyler Murray, Clayton Tune
RBs: James Conner, Michael Carter, Emari Demercado
WRs: Marquise Brown, Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal
TEs: Trey McBride, Geoff Swaim

Atlanta Falcons

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder, Logan Woodside
RBs: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson
WRs: Drake London, Mack Hollins, KhaDarel Hodge, Van Jefferson, Scott Miller, Jared Bernhardt, Josh Ali
TEs: Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, MyCole Pruitt, John FitzPatrick

Baltimore Ravens

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Josh Johnson
RBs: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Melvin Gordon, J.K. Dobbins, Keaton Mitchell
WRs: Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace
TEs: Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Mark Andrews

Buffalo Bills

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Josh Allen
RBs: James Cook, Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson
WRs: Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, Trent Sherfield, Deonte Harty
TEs: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris

Carolina Panthers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
RBs: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear
WRs: Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, D.J. Chark, Terrace Marshall Jr., Laviska Shenault, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Mike Strachan
TEs: Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan, Ian Thomas, Hayden Hurst

Chicago Bears

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent, Nathan Peterman
RBs: Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, Khari Blasingame
WRs: D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., Trent Taylor, Equanimeous St. Brown
TEs: Cole Kmet, Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Jake Tonges

Cincinnati Bengals

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Jake Browning, Joe Burrow
RBs: Joe Mixon, Chase Brown, Chris Evans, Trayveon Williams
WRs: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones
TEs: Irv Smith Jr., Tanner Hudson, Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox

Cleveland Browns

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Joe Flacco, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Deshaun Watson
RBs: Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, Pierre Strong Jr., Nick Chubb
WRs: Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, Marquise Goodwin, David Bell
TEs: David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Harrison Bryant

Dallas Cowboys

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Trey Lance
RBs: Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke
WRs: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks
TEs: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Peyton Hendershot

Denver Broncos

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Russell Wilson, Jarrett Stidham
RBs: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Samaje Perine
WRs: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Marvin Mims Jr., Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson
TEs: Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz, Greg Dulcich

Detroit Lions

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater
RBs: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Zonovan Knight
WRs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Jameson Williams, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green
TEs: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell

Green Bay Packers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford
RBs: Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Patrick Taylor
WRs: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Samori Toure, Malik Heath
TEs: Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Josiah Deguara, Luke Musgrave

Houston Texans

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: C.J. Stroud, Case Keenum, Davis Mills
RBs: Devin Singletary, Dameon Pierce, Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale
WRs: Nico Collins, Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell
TEs: Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan

Indianapolis Colts

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Gardner Minshew, Sam Ehlinger, Kellen Mond, Anthony Richardson
RBs: Zack Moss, Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull
WRs: Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Isaiah McKenzie, D.J. Montgomery
TEs: Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Will Mallory, Andrew Ogletree, Jelani Woods

Jacksonville Jaguars

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Beathard, Nathan Rourke
RBs: Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson
WRs: Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones, Parker Washington, Tim Jones, Jamal Agnew, Christian Kirk
TEs: Evan Engram, Brenton Strange, Luke Farrell, Elijah Cooks

Kansas City Chiefs

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Blaine Gabbert
RBs: Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WRs: Rashee Rice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, Richie James, Justyn Ross, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman
TEs: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Blake Bell, Jody Fortson

Los Angeles Rams

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz, Stetson Bennett
RBs: Kyren Williams, Royce Freeman, Zach Evans, Ronnie Rivers
WRs: Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, Demarcus Robinson
TEs: Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Hunter Long, Davis Allen

Miami Dolphins

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Tua Tagovailoa, Mike White, Skylar Thompson
RBs: Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed, Christopher Brooks
WRs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson, Chase Claypool, River Cracraft
TEs: Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, Tyler Kroft

Minnesota Vikings

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, Kirk Cousins
RBs: Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, C.J. Ham, Kene Nwangwu, Cam Akers
WRs: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, Brandon Powell, Jalen Nailor
TEs: Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse, T.J. Hockenson

New England Patriots

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones
RBs: Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott, JaMycal Hasty
WRs: DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Matt Slater, Kendrick Bourne
TEs: Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, Pharaoh Brown

New Orleans Saints

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Derek Carr, Jameis Winston, Jake Haener
RBs: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller
WRs: Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, A.T. Perry, Keith Kirkwood, Lynn Bowden, Michael Thomas
TEs: Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau, Jimmy Graham

New York Giants

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Tommy DeVito, Tyrod Taylor, Daniel Jones
RBs: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, Eric Gray
WRs: Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Parris Campbell, Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard
TEs: Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Chris Myarick

New York Jets

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, Aaron Rodgers
RBs: Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, Israel Abanikanda
WRs: Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Charles Irvin
TEs: Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, C.J. Uzomah, Kenny Yeboah

Oakland Raiders

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Aidan O'Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer
RBs: Josh Jacobs, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden
WRs: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Carter, Kristian Wilkerson
TEs: Michael Mayer, Austin Hooper, Jesper Horsted

Philadelphia Eagles

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota, Tanner McKee
RBs: D'Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, Rashaad Penny
WRs: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Julio Jones, Olamide Zaccheaus, Quez Watkins
TEs: Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, Albert Okwuegbunam

Pittsburgh Steelers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett
RBs: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland Jr.
WRs: George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin
TEs: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington

San Diego Chargers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Easton Stick, Justin Herbert
RBs: Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, Elijah Dotson
WRs: Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton, Derius Davis, Mike Williams
TEs: Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Stone Smartt

San Francisco 49ers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, Brandon Allen
RBs: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Kyle Juszczyk
WRs: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray
TEs: George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Brayden Willis, Ross Dwelley, Cameron Latu

Seattle Seahawks

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Geno Smith, Drew Lock
RBs: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, DeeJay Dallas, Kenny McIntosh
WRs: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Cody Thompson, Dareke Young
TEs: Noah Fant, Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
RBs: Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker, Ke'Shawn Vaughn
WRs: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Kaylon Geiger, Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett, Russell Gage
TEs: Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, Payne Durham

Tennessee Titans

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Will Levis, Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis
RBs: Derrick Henry, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut
WRs: DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook_Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Colton Dowell, Chris Moore
TEs: Chigoziem Okonkwo, Josh Whyle, Trevon Wesco

Washington Redskins

Compiled by FootballDiehards Editor Bob Harris | Updated 14 December 2016

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, just when it appeared that quarterback Kirk Cousins had made the franchise's offseason decision harder, life changed a little bit. And just when it appeared the Redskins resembled anything but a playoff team, life changed even more.

They needed their quarterback to lead a big drive. They needed the defense to make one big play. Both happened and it's why the Redskins remain alive in the playoff race after their 27a-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta and Tampa Bay both winning, the Redskins remain a half-game out of the playoffs.

"Our heart's still beating," head coach Jay Gruden said.

It's sometimes hard to view the Redskins as a playoff team because they have so many issues, mostly on defense. They allow too many third-down conversions. They make life too easy at times for the offense. Yet with 21 seconds left in the game and the Eagles on the 14-yard line, here came Ryan Kerrigan with a sack that forced quarterback Carson Wentz to fumble.

But that's why the Redskins remain alive.

Without that sack/fumble, the Redskins would be bemoaning another wasted chance. Instead, they snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5-1.

Then there was Cousins.

He hasn't made the Redskins' offseason decision a whole lot easier when it comes to deciding what he ultimately should be paid. A strong final month is necessary to erase all doubt. Instead, it was his pick-six that halted Washington's momentum and made the score 21-19.

But Cousins and the offense responded.

"I would love to win 80 to nothing every game," Cousins said. "That's not how the NFL works. ... We understand pick-sixes are going to happen. The key is playing through it, not letting it affect the next play or the next drive and that's why I'm pleased with our team. Guys are showing character and being able to play through adversity."

As Keim suggested, Cousins could have been talking about himself. After all, one question coaches had about Cousins two years ago centered around his ability to bounce back after interceptions. They often led to more mistakes. But, especially this season, interceptions have not ruined Cousins (he's only thrown eight this season to 23 touchdowns).

It's not that Cousins needed to do a whole lot -- he completed two key passes on the last drive, but the first was a perfect throw to Jamison Crowder down the left seam. Then, on a fourth-and-2, Cousins came through with a quick hit to Pierre Garcon.

This win was not just about Cousins. He needed help and his offensive players provided it, but he did need to show that he could rally them when needed most. He did.

And the defense needed to do the same, especially after failing to make big plays at the end of losses to Detroit, Dallas and Arizona. It did as well.

There's a lot they must clean up, but there are no style points awarded in December. The Redskins got what they needed.

"These games are never going to be perfect," Cousins said. "You're going to have adversity and the ability to keep at them was a good sign from our team. There's a lot of football to be played."

But exactly how much remains to be seen. If the Redskins finish strong as they did Sunday, their chances of playing into January will be much higher. ...

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson remains valuable, and will be costly for anyone to sign in the offseason, was quite evident Sunday. Just in case anyone needed a reminder, he hasn't lost a step; he keeps losing defenders, which is why the Redskins can still make the playoffs.

Jackson is a game-changer and, as Gruden said last week, he doesn't need to catch the ball eight or 10 times to make an impact.

One play will do just fine. Sunday, Jackson caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that ignited the Redskins. It's also why the Redskins remain dangerous down the stretch and capable of earning a playoff berth. No matter how much they might struggle at times, with Jackson they're only one play away from changing the momentum of the game.

"That big-play ability jump-starts this team," Gruden said.

At age 30, Jackson now ranks second in NFL history in touchdown catches of 60 yards or longer with 22. He moved past Devin Hester (21) and trails only the legendary Jerry Rice (23) in that category.

Drop the bar to touchdowns of 50 yards or more and Jackson is now tied with Steve Smith for fourth most since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 (26).

Jackson has caught a pass of at least 50 yards three weeks in a row for the first time since 2009 when he was a second-year player for the Eagles.

Wherever Jackson goes next season will be discussed for a little while. The Redskins know it will be too expensive to keep Jackson and Garcon, and both proved their value Sunday.

For Jackson, it's about speed. He's not going to lose it over the next three weeks. In the next three years, who knows? That's irrelevant for now. All that matters to Washington is that he provides an opportunity to make big plays and help fuel the playoff chase.

All that said, don't hold your breath for Jackson to get a lot more chances. Jackson is a closer -- someone who can dominate for one inning. The Redskins have other targets -- Garcon, tight end Jordan Reed -- who can handle more attempts. Garcon, in particular, is sturdier -- and it's why he'll be a desired player to re-sign in the offseason.

But as Gruden said, just watch how defenses attempt to play Jackson and you'll see his impact over the next three weeks.

How much is that worth? Sunday, it was worth a win. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Cousins is the first player in franchise history with two seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. Cousins is 122 yards from breaking his team record for most passing yards in a season.

Crowder caught two passes on Sunday against Philadelphia to reach 60 for the season and surpass his total from his rookie season in 2015 (59).

And finally. ... As NFL.com's Matt Franciscovich noted, Robert Kelley wasn't spectacular against the Eagles, but he did enough to finish as the week's RB10.

Kelley only averaged 3.9 yards per carry but did have some impressive runs (including a 22-yard touchdown run), gaining yards after contact and powering through defenders when given the chance. He's done well in his featured role late this season despite a tough schedule.

Gruden said earlier last week that he wanted to get the rookie back more involved, and his 18 touches in Week 14 bested his totals of 16 and 14 the last two games, respectively. Expect more of the same Monday night when the Redskins take on the Panthers.


DEPTH CHART
QBs: Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett
RBs: Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez
WRs: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder, Byron Pringle, Mitchell Tinsley
TEs: Logan Thomas, Cole Turner, John Bates