LANDOVER — No Washington Redskins quarterback had ever captained a comeback quite like the one Kirk Cousins oversaw on Sunday.
Cousins threw three second-half touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score to Jordan Reed with 24 seconds left, to lead the Redskins past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-30, after trailing by 24 points.
It is the largest deficit the Redskins (3-4) in a victory.
Cousins finished 33-for-40 for 317 yards, the three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran eight yards for a touchdown in the second quarter for Washington’s first points.
There is a clear pattern to Washington’s season so far: In the team’s three wins, Cousins has not thrown a single interception; he has been picked off twice in the four losses.
This was the fourth-year quarterback’s second last-minute comeback win this season, both at home. Cousins led the Redskins past the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
Jameis Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, was 21-for-29 for 297 yards and two first-half touchdowns that helped Tampa Bay (2-4) build a 24-0 lead in the second quarter. Doug Martin ran for 136 yards on 19 carries.
Cousins hadn’t completed more than one touchdown pass in any game all season, and there were those wondering whether his time as the starter might be coming to an end. He threw two three-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter, each of which sandwiched the first successful onside kick attempt in the NFL this season.
Then, trailing 30-24, Washington got the ball at its own 20-yard line with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter. Cousins threw the ball on every play, completing nine of 11 passes for 75 yards — including the six-yard toss to Reed.
Until Sunday, the Redskins’ biggest comeback victories had been with 21-point holes.
Tampa Bay certainly helped the hosts’ cause this time, with 16 penalties for 142 yards
Mike Evans caught a 40-yard touchdown pass on Tampa Bay’s third play from scrimmage, Donteea Dye had a 17-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and Howard Jones returned a fumble by Cousins 43 yards for a touchdowns.
Then the Redskins began chipping away, first on Cousins’ touchdown run, and then in the third quarter, the portion of games that had been devastating dreadful for Washington this season. The Redskins entered Sunday having been outscored, 46-3, in that period.
Coach Jay Gruden vowed all week to emphasize better third-quarter production. Something finally clicked.
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