EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kirk Cousins took responsibility for throwing two interceptions in the Washington Redskins’ 32-21 loss to the New York Giants on Thursday.
Cousins, who has now thrown eight of his 23 career interceptions against the Giants, turned the ball over with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter and 3:45 left in the third quarter. The interceptions were his third and fourth on the season.
The Redskins were facing second-and-7 from their own nine-yard line when Cousins attempted a pass over the middle to wide receiver Pierre Garçon. Instead, cornerback Prince Amukamara, who watched the route unfold, beat Garçon to the spot of the throw, snagging the ball at the 20-yard line and returning it six yards to set up what would be a four-play touchdown drive for the Giants.
“The first one, I thought the corner made a good play,” Cousins said. “He jumped the route. It’s a bang-bang play. I believe there are some throws in this league that if you don’t let that one go, you’re never going to let a ball go and you’re never going to be able to complete some of those tight-window throws that you got to make in this league to move the football. So, I would credit the corner more on that one, making a great play, recognizing the route ahead of time.”
The second interception ended the Redskins’ first drive of the second half. Facing first-and-10 from the Giants’ 34-yard line, Cousins tried to force a throw to tight end Derek Carrier in the right seam when the ball was deflected upward and caught by middle linebacker Uani Unga.
“You can call it whatever you want — trying to do too much, or forcing it, or whatever,” Cousins said. “I’m just trying to find a completion and throw it to somebody and find a safe spot.”
Those types of plays were what caused coach Jay Gruden to pull Cousins from his starting role last season, when he filled in for an injured Robert Griffin III.
“When you’re throwing the ball against the middle of the field like that, you better be dang sure that it’s complete, or you throw it away and live to fight another day on second-and-10, so that was unfortunate,” Gruden said.
Cousins completed 30 of 49 passes for 316 yards on Thursday, with a four-yard pass to running back Chris Thompson resulting in the Redskins’ only offensive touchdown of the game.
“That’s why turnovers hurt you, because if you can just maintain possession, there were plays there to be made, but when you give it back and make the defense go out there, you can’t make plays on the sideline,” Cousins said.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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