After stunning the league by winning the NFC East last season, can Kirk Cousins and the Redskins win back-to-back division titles for the first time in 32 years?

By Greg DePalma, PSN Executive Producer

Washington Redskins (9-7)

SB Futures: 40-1

FORMER

After winning just seven games combined over the previous two seasons, the Washington Redskins took advantage of Tony Romo’s injury and an overall down year in the division to shock everyone by winning the NFC East with a mere nine wins.

When they entered Week 14 at 5-7 there was no reason to believe this would be the end result. But QB Kirk Cousins saved his best for last and guided the Redskins to four consecutive wins by completing 89 of 120 passes (74%) for 1160 yards (290 per game) and 12 TDs.

Cousins would go on to pass for over 4,000 yards (4,166) on the season with 29 TDs against just 11 interceptions as well as owning the top completion percentage in the league at 69.8% and an excellent 101.6 rating.

With top receiver DeSean Jackson banged-up for most of the first half of the season, Cousins found a new top target in TE Jordan Reed who led the team with 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 TDs.

Unfortunately the defense did not have that same kind of success last season and it eventually led to their quick ousting in their 35-18 Wild-Card home loss to Green Bay.

Age and injuries were the primary culprit as the defense ranked 28th in the league allowing 380.6 yards per game.

CURRENT

There is no reason to believe Kirk Cousins and the offense will do anything but improve on their 17th-rated unit with every key player back including a healthier DeSean Jackson and several young dynamic receivers in the fold.

While first-round pick Josh Doctson gets all the press, second-year WR Jamison Crowder should be the player to keep an eye on. With 59 receptions Crowder broke Hall of Fame WR Art Monk’s team rookie record and ultimately became a big part of the offense by providing Cousins with another receiver he could count on to move the chains.

In order to really turn-up the offense Head Coach Jay Gruden is relying on second-year thumper Matt Jones and speed-back Chris Thompson to carry the load in the backfield now that veteran Alfred Morris is in Dallas.

With a top-rate offensive line and a quality passing attack, there is no excuse for both Jones and Thompson to not do their part and help provide the balance that this unit sorely lacked last season.

The defense also must step-up and show significant improvement if Washington is to seriously contend for the Super Bowl.

With FA cornerback Josh Norman joining fellow corner Bashaud Breeland in the secondary the Redskins will have one of the top duos in the league. Second-year LB Preston Smith will also have to take that next step and give the Redskins a pressure threat on the outside opposite veteran Ryan Kerrigan. Smith registered a solid eight sacks as a rookie so the talent is there.

The key for the defense will be up the middle. The Redskins lack a difference maker at tackle while both inside linebackers and safeties must improve dramatically.

The real weakness is at inside linebacker as both Will Compton and Perry Riley played poorly last season, especially against the run. Look for Mason Foster to push for playing time inside while rookie second-round pick Su’a Cravens hopes to provide coordinator Joe Barry with a versatile weapon in the Deone Bucannon mold.

If a few kids like Cravens, fellow rookie seventh-rounder Steven Daniels or second-year players Carlos Fields Jr. and Houston Bates can push for quality playing time, then maybe the defense will perform better than expected.

Of course, that’s a big if.

CONCLUSION

Washington is not only trying to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 19 years, but they are also trying to successfully defend their division title for the first time in 32 years.

If they can remain much healthier than last season I am confident they can accomplish both.

If they’re to attempt a run at a Super Bowl though then Kirk Cousins must play like an MVP because I just don’t think the defense is ready to do their part.

BUY/PASS ON SUPER BOWL FUTURES

-BUY

Key Veteran Additions…

-FA TE Vernon Davis…Former Bronco had just 38 receptions with no scores last season between Denver and San Francisco.

-FA DE Kendall Reyes…Former Charger has been an unproductive 2012 second-round bust from San Diego.

-FA CB Josh Norman…Former Panther was an elite corner during his last season in Carolina which included four interceptions and two TDs.

-FA S David Bruton…Former Bronco is a solid defender and special teamer who spent his first seven seasons with the world champions.

Key Veteran Subtractions…

-QB Robert Griffin…Has not played since 2014. Led Redskins to the playoffs during rookie season in 2012.

-RB Alfred Morris…Had a career-low 3.7 average per rush last season.

-DT Terrance Knighton…Played 408 snaps in ‘15/solid run defender.

-DE Jason Hatcher…Played 594 snaps in ‘15/good pass rusher.

-MLB Keenan Robinson…Played 554 snaps in ‘15/below average defender.

-CB Chris Culliver…FA bust last season who played only 360 snaps in ’15 after an ACL injury on Thanksgiving.

-S Dashon Goldson…Played 1070 snaps in ‘15/below average defender.

Top Sleeper…

-CB Quinton Dunbar…Second-year FA made successful transition from college receiver to NFL corner by playing 11 games as a rookie. With more experience under his belt Dunbar could emerge as a major contributor in the Redskins secondary this season.

Also keep an eye on…

-OLB Houston Bates…Second-year FA has a great chance for playing time with the injury to Junior Galette and the position switch for Trent Murphy. Bates registered 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his senior season with Louisiana Tech including a 4 ½ sack performance in the Bulldogs upset bowl win over Illinois. He stood out in the pre-season last year and could win major playing time if he stands out even more this time around.

-RB Keith Marshall…Rookie seventh-round pick.

Key injuries/suspensions…

-RB Matt Jones…Had off-season hip surgery.

-RB Chris Thompson…Had off-season shoulder surgery.

-RB Silas Redd…Returning from an ACL injury. Redd has also been suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s drug policy. This is Redd’s second drug suspension in the past year.

-TE Logan Paulsen…Returning from a toe injury. The best blocking tight end on the roster missed all of last season.

-C Kory Lichtensteiger…Returning from nerve injury. Missed 11 games last season before returning for the Wild Card game.

-OG Shawn Lauvao…Returning from ankle injury. Placed on IR and missed the last 13 games. Also had leg and foot surgeries during off-season.

-DL Stephen Paea…Returning from toe injury.

-OLB Junior Galette…Tore his ACL for a second straight season and will miss all of 2016.

-ILB Perry Riley…Returning from foot injury.

-S Duke Ihenacho…Returning from wrist injury in last season’s opener. Placed on IR and missed the last 15 games.