Three Redskins deserve to go to the Pro Bowl

At 6-5-1, the Washington Redskins are ever so slightly above-average. But several Redskins are having well above-average seasons and deserve a spot at the 2017 Pro Bowl.

With only five days remaining in the fan voting portion of the selection process for the Pro Bowl, not a single Redskin leads the ballot in their respective position. Here are three Redskins who should be in the mix for postseason honors:

Quarterback Kirk Cousins

For Cousins fans, this season looks a lot like last year, the signal-caller’s first full year as a starter. After starting off a bit cold, Cousins has ramped up his play in the latter half of the year, averaging 363 passing yards per game, throwing for 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions since Week 8.

His totals compare favorably to the rest of the NFL. His 3,811 passing yards rank third. His 8.04 yards per attempt ranks fourth, his 67.5 completion percentage ranks sixth and his 99.6 QB rating ranks eighth.

The only area where Cousins may be lacking is total passing touchdowns. His 21 passing touchdowns rank just 11th in the NFL. But while his touchdowns haven’t been plentiful, they’ve been consistent: Cousins has thrown a passing touchdown in each of his last 11 games.

As far as Redskins quarterbacks go, Cousins is having one of the most prolific seasons in franchise history. Before his interception against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Cousins had gone 187 pass attempts without an interception. That’s the second-longest such streak in team history, trailing only Jason Campbell’s 271 passes without an interception streak that straddled the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Cousins needs 356 passing yards over his next four games to throw for the most yards in a single season in Redskins’ history, eclipsing a record he already set just last year. Cousins is also well on pace to set a record for the most completions (379, set by Cousins himself last season).

After being snubbed for the Pro Bowl last year, Cousins is putting up the kind of numbers this year that are hard to ignore.

Tight end Jordan Reed

Injury wise, it’s been a difficult year for Reed. But despite the fact he’s missed three games due to a concussion and a separated shoulder, Reed is still producing like an elite tight end.

Even with the injuries, Reed stands out in a down year for tight ends across the league. Very few are putting up dominant numbers. Reed though, is indisputably the cog that makes the Redskins offensive attack go. He leads all Redskins in targets per game, averaging 8.78 looks per game.

And if a ball is thrown Reed’s way, he catches it more times than not. His 73.49 completion percentage ranks second in the NFL among tight ends with at least 60 targets, behind only the Oakland Raiders’ Zach Miller. Reed’s five touchdowns also rank third in the NFL.

He is particularly a threat in the red zone. His 14 total targets within the opponent’s 20 yard line rank eighth in the NFL, while his completion percentage of 64.29 ranks fourth among tight ends with at least 10 red zone targets.

Cornerback Josh Norman

The Redskins have gotten everything and more of what they expected when they signed Norman to a five-year, $75 million contract this offseason.

Norman has served as the shutdown corner for the entirety of the season, and even the league’s best receivers have struggled against him.

Dallas Cowboys All Pro Dez Bryant, in two games this season, has managed to record just 32 yards on three catches when lined up against Norman.

Norman doesn’t just succeed against Bryant and the Cowboys. Against the Green Bay Packers’ a strong passing attack, the ball was thrown Norman’s way by quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times. Norman allowed just one catch for 13 yards on that target.

A first-team All Pro last season, Norman has just one interception this year to go with two forced fumbles, and he’s defended only 12 passes — just 10th in the NFL.

But that’s because the ball doesn’t get thrown Norman’s way — and that’s the best type of defense.