Kirk Cousins is a fast starter.
In both games he's participated in 2014 -- subbing for an injured Robert Griffin III in Week 2 and starting in Week 3 -- he's come out of the gate slinging the pigskin.
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Last week, Cousins led the Washington Redskins to a 17-7 start against the Philadelphia Eagles by dicing up the defense with precision. The signal-caller credits his studying for the fast starts.
"I think more than anything it just takes good preparation, good attention to detail and just having a good understanding of where guys are going to be and where you need to be and the timing of plays," Cousins said, per The Washington Post. "I have always said, I can't run by them, I can't throw it through them, so I have got to know where they are going to be and the only way I can do that is through good preparation."
The 26-year-old quarterback's numbers were impressive against the Eagles: 30-of-48 passing (62.5 percent), 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The trouble for the third-year pro isn't how he's started, but how he's closed. As a starter Cousins is 1-4, with the lone win coming his rookie season.
Last season, two of Cousins' three defeats were by one point. In Week 3, he failed to lead a scoring drive late as the Redskins fell by three points in Philly.
Oddly enough, Cousins' lone blowout loss came last year against the New York Giants in the season finale.
Cousins will try to avenge that loss Thursday night while helping his team avoid a 1-3 start to the season.
For that to happen, the quarterback must not only start fast, he must finally close, too.
On the latest Around The NFL Podcast, the heroes chat with two-time MVP Kurt Warner, debate the NFL's top throwing arms and preview Thursday night's game.
