Raiders coach Klint Kubiak affirmed Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback Monday without controversy, and the 38-year-old veteran said Wednesday he will simply "go out and do what my coach tells me and just go play." The team has lost four straight games but maintains its belief that Cousins gives them the best chance to win as they prepare to travel for Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets.
Cousins leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes this season and ranks third in passing yards with 1,877 while surrendering the third-fewest sack yards among seven-game starters. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six of seven games and posted a quarterback rating of 106.7 or better three times, though the offense ranks second-worst in rushing efficiency at 3.0 yards per carry.
Kubiak, who worked with Cousins as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in Minnesota, cited the quarterback's consistency as a key factor. "Knowing him as long as I have, whether he's on a hot streak or a losing streak, he's the same. That's what you want from your leaders. You want consistency," Kubiak said. The Raiders rank seventh in scoring offense at 26.1 points per game despite the lack of balance.
Cousins acknowledged he needs to be sharper in the red zone and on third downs. The Raiders rank 29th in red-zone touchdown rate at 46.4 percent and 17th in third-down conversion rate at 39.1 percent. He specifically lamented a fourth-down incompletion to Jalen Nailor in Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, saying, "It's a fine line between winning a game and losing a game. It can be one play. It can be one throw."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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