Fitzgerald Cecilio
Rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins was outstanding in his first NFL career start, throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns, as the Washington Redskins defeated the Cleveland Browns, 38-21, for their fifth straight victory Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Cousins, starting for the injured Robert Griffin III, completed 26 of 37 throws and found wide receiver Leonard Hankerson for his two scores as the Redskins joined the New York Giants atop the NFC East with identical 8-6 records.
Rookie running back Alfred Morris also did his part, rushing for 87 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns to help the Redskins achieve their longest winning streak since 2007.
Wideout Pierre Garcon tallied 65 yards on six catches while Hankerson finished with 56 yards on two receptions for Washington.
Neophyte playmaker Brandon Weeden hit 21 of 35 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown but had two interceptions as the Browns (5-9) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with the loss.
Rookie rusher Trent Richardson provided the scoring punch for the Browns, running for 28 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns and wide receiver Travis Benjamin caught Weeden's 69-yard scoring pass in the fourth.
Richardson opened the first quarter with a six-yard scoring run to break a first-place tie with Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who had nine rushing touchdowns in his rookie season in 1957.
However, Cousins immediately responded with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Hankerson to tie the game.
In the second quarter, Kai Forbath buried a 44-yard field goal to put the Redskins ahead, 10-7, before Richardson delivered his second touchdown of the game to give the Browns a 14-10 lead at the break.
With his 11th touchdown run, Richardson broke a three-way tie with Brown and Eric Metcalf for the most combined touchdowns by a Browns rookie. Both Brown and Metcalf had 10 touchdowns in their rookie seasons with the Browns.
The Redskins stormed ahead for good, 24-14, in the third period behind a three-yard scoring run by Morris and a two-yard pass by Cousins to Hankerson.
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Kirk Cousins Shines in First QB Start as Redskins Blast Browns, 38-21 - NFL 2012 Week 15