Redskins defeat Eagles, 38-24, clinch NFC East, playoff berth

The 2012 quarterback draft class has the Washington Redskins back in the playoffs.

Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns, and overcame the brain cramp of the NFL season at the end of the first half, to lead the ‘Skins to a 38-24 win at Philadelphia on Saturday night, clinching the NFC East title for Washington.

The Redskins (8-7) will host a first-round NFC playoff game in two weeks.

The Eagles (6-9) were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, as were the idle New York Giants (6-8).

Philadelphia scored on its first possession, getting a 1-yard TD run by Ryan Matthews 2:52 into the game. Cousins and tight end Jordan Reed connected for two first-quarter touchdowns, for 22 yards and 12 yards, and led 16-10 with the ball inside the Eagles 5 with six seconds to go in the second quarter with a chance to add to the margin heading into the break.

After an Eagles timeout, Cousins inexplicably took a knee, and since the Redskins did not have a timeout, the clock ran out without Washington able to get off another play.

Cousins, drafted in the fourth round in 2012, behind #2 overall pick and 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, atoned for his mistake with two second-half TD passes, to Chris Thompson and Pierre Garcon, the second culminating a back-breaking 13-play, 82-yard drive that ate 7:44 off the clock and pushed the Redskins’ lead to 38-17 with 8:55 to go.

Philadelphia quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 380 yards on 37-of-56 passing with a touchdown.

Cousins completed 31 of his 46 pass attempts, and for the season has thrown for 3,625 yards, completing 69.7 percent of his passes, best in the NFL, with 22 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 97.2 quarterback rating, good for eighth in the NFL.