Watch: Redskins’ Kirk Cousins takes knee on first-and-goal to end half
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins committed an unusual gaffe to end the first half against the Eagles on Saturday night.
The Redskins, leading 16–10, had the ball on the Eagles’ 10 yard-line with six seconds left, first and goal. Out of timeouts, with an opportunity to increase the lead, Cousins took the snap and inexplicably decided to take a knee. The clock ran down to zero, and halftime began.
It looked like Cousins could have meant to spike the ball, judging by his delayed motion after already taking a knee. The Redskins also could simply have taken the points and opened up a two-score lead. Instead, what was essentially the worst-case scenario unfolded. Watch the play below.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said in a halftime interview following the play that the plan was to throw a fade to Pierre Garçon, and that he was unsure why Cousins took the knee.
The first half was otherwise kind to Cousins in the key NFC East matchup, with the QB throwing for 220 yards on 18 of 25 passing with two touchdowns to tight end Jordan Reed.
With a win, the Redskins can clinch the division.
- Jeremy Woo
