EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Even as the losses continue and the interceptions mount, Kirk Cousins remains the quarterback of the Washington Redskins.
For now, anyway.
Jay Gruden gave Cousins a vote of confidence following a 34-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. When asked if Cousins was the starter for the rest of the season, Gruden said: “Yeah, that’s the intent.”
Gruden needs more production from his entire team, including Cousins. The Redskins had no running game to speak of, generating only 34 yards on Sunday.
“You hate to pin this game on Kirk,” Gruden said. “I know he could have played better. We had no running game whatsoever. Kirk is not in a stage in his career right now, nor is anybody on our roster, to carry our team throwing the ball as much as we would have had to today.”
And once again, Washington suffered a third-quarter meltdown, giving up 17 points in the frame as the Jets rallied from a 13-10 halftime deficit. The Redskins have been outscored, 46-3, in the third quarter this season.
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“The third quarter’s been a nightmare for us,” Gruden said.
Cousins was 25-for-43 for 196 yards with a touchdown to Pierre Garcon and two interceptions. He has two interceptions each in four games this season — all losses. Cousins has no interceptions in Washington’s two wins.
“If I start to doubt, I’m not going to ever get to the level I want to go,” Cousins said. “I’ve got to keep going, learn from mistakes.”
The Jets, on the other hand, cleaned up their early mistakes.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score. Chris Ivory ran for 146 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for the Jets, who improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2010. Brandon Marshall had seven catches for 111 yards, and Eric Decker also caught a touchdown pass.
The Jets, coming off a bye week, trailed at halftime with the Redskins (2-4) scoring their points off three turnovers by Bashaud Breeland, who had an interception and two fumble recoveries.
But New York opened the second half with 24 consecutive points to take control against a Washington team without several starters, including wide receiver DeSean Jackson, left tackle Trent Williams and cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Chris Culliver.
“If you want to be a great team,” Marshall said, “you’ve got to be able to punch through adversity.”
With so many injuries, even Robert Griffin III was active — as the Redskins’ third-string quarterback — for the first time this season.
“I don’t like to make excuses about anything,” Gruden said. “I just know that we had an opportunity to play the New York Jets today with 46 able players, and they were better than us. They were better coached, better prepared.”
Nick Folk tied it at 13-13 with a 39-yard field goal early in the second half. Two plays later, the Jets got the ball back when Darrelle Revis made an easy interception of Cousins’ pass for Ryan Grant.
With the ball at the Redskins’ 18-yard line, the Jets wasted no time as Fitzpatrick took off up the middle, got a big block from tight end Kellen Davis near the goal line and got into the end zone for a 20-13 lead.
Marshall made it 26-13 with a terrific fingertips catch just off his shoe tops, getting inside of Breeland on a low throw. He then scooted down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown — as Breeland sat on the field with his head in his hands in disbelief.
New York got the ball back when Marcus Gilchrist picked off Cousins’ deep pass for Jamison Crowder. Decker caught a two-yard pass to put the Jets comfortably in front, 34-13 early in the fourth quarter.
The Redskins crept closer when Jeron Johnson blocked Ryan Quigley’s punt and Rashad Ross recovered in the end zone with just under four minutes left, but Davis recovered the ensuing onside kick.
“The second half, we laid an egg,” Gruden said. “A big egg.”
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