Cousins: The 5,000-Yard Man?

Kirk Cousins will not only eclipse the Washington Redskins single-season passing yards mark that he set last year, but could also cross the 5,000-yard mark with a strong finish.

- Chris Russell

Entering the season’s final month, Cousins only needed 1,189 yards to cross a threshold that nobody, including the Redskins, thought he would ever sniff. It’s not likely but it’s possible.

Cousins needs to average 297 passing yards per game over the final weeks to do just that. Considering he eclipsed that number six times in the first 12 games and on one more occasion he was at 296, it’s certainly within reach. Through the first 12 games of the season, Cousins averaged 317.5 yards per game.

Five-thousand passing yards in 16 games is 312.5 yards per game. In today’s NFL, for a good quarterback, it’s probably harder to play in all 16 games than it is to throw for 312 yards or more every game, but it’s obviously not easy.

Is a 5,000-passing yard season a barometer of greatness? Yes, but there’s a caveat.

If Cousins could do it, he would join elite and rare fraternity that includes Peyton Manning (2013), Drew Brees (2011, 2012, 2013, 2008), Tom Brady (2011), Dan Marino (1984) and Matthew Stafford (2011) as the only quarterbacks to pass an elite threshold.