When Joe Theismann claimed this week that Washington’s upcoming preseason game was the biggest game of Robert Griffin III’s life, it seemed like extreme hyperbole.
But tonight’s game really might be the biggest yet for Kirk Cousins.
Cousins, who according to multiple reports has been declared tonight’s starter in Griffin’s place, now gets a great opportunity to perform with Washington’s first-string offense. In the first two weeks of the preseason, with Griffin as the starter, the offense has looked terrible. If Cousins looks poised and efficient and leads the starting offense on multiple scoring drives, coach Jay Gruden may have no choice but to make Cousins the starter for the regular season.
On the other hand, if Cousins struggles tonight just as mightily as Griffin has struggled, everyone will say it shows that Washington’s entire offense is a mess, and it goes far beyond the starting quarterback.
Theismann, the former Washington quarterback who is now the team’s preseason TV commentator, said on NFL Network that he believes Cousins will in fact be the Week One starter if he plays well tonight.
"[Griffin’s] future depends on what happens with Kirk,” Theismann said. ". . . If Kirk goes out and plays well, you have to assume that he’s going to be the guy who has to start because he hasn’t missed any time.”
Today could be the day that Griffin loses the starting job in Washington, for good.