Redskins clinch NFL East title

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Worst to first in a mediocre division counts the same.

Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes and had a season-high 365 yards and the Washington Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-24 Saturday night to clinch the NFC East title.

Only 4-12 last season, the Redskins (8-7) began their turnaround when Cousins rallied them from a 24-0 first-half deficit to a 31-30 win over Tampa Bay on Oct. 25. They’ve won three straight for the first time since a seven-game winning streak helped them secure the division in 2012 in Robert Griffin III’s rookie year.

DeAngelo Hall returned DeMarco Murray’s fumble 17 yards for a momentum-changing TD in the third quarter. Cousins threw TD passes to Chris Thompson and Pierre Garcon and a pair to Jordan Reed.

The Eagles (6-9) entered the game in control of their playoff hopes. They needed to beat the Redskins and Giants next week to win the East. Washington’s win also eliminated New York (6-8).

Two teams have clinched division crowns in Philadelphia in six days. Arizona won the NFC West with a 40-17 win over the Eagles last Sunday night.

While the Redskins and coach Jay Gruden head to the playoffs, the Eagles and coach Chip Kelly face a challenging offseason. Kelly took control of personnel decisions last year and overhauled a team that went 10-6 in each of his first two seasons.

It clearly didn’t work out.

Meanwhile, Gruden made a gutsy call in August to bench Griffin and give the starting job to Cousins. It paid off.

Cousins was outstanding down the stretch with 16 TD passes and only two interceptions in the last seven games.