LANDOVER, Md. – Cornerback Josh Norman walked around toward the end of the Washington Redskins' 19-10 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday wanting to thank fans for showing up for what should have been a playoff-clinching victory over an opponent with nothing to play for.
Instead, the Redskins came out flat, Kirk Cousins threw two costly interceptions and the team saw its season end after blowing a virtual win-and-in opportunity to join the Giants in the playoffs.
"You don't come out and lose and like that," Norman said. "That right there was just disgusting, it was despicable. … That right there, it's not football."
With control of its playoff hopes, Washington (8-7-1) lost two of its final three games and four of six down the stretch with a combination of horrendous starts, ill-timed mistakes and lackluster offense. Cousins was picked off in the second half twice Sunday by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the second interception all but sealing the result.
Cousins was 22-for-35 for 287 yards with a touchdown and the two interceptions in what could be his final game with the Redskins after playing this season on the franchise tag.
"This isn't my first time dealing with this," said Cousins, who was sacked four times. "Tough times don't last; tough people do, right? I sound like a broken record, but I'm going to keep saying that until I retire."
Washington players complimented the Giants (11-5) for being "the better team," which was jarring given that they were locked into the NFC's first wild card with nothing at stake. Eli Manning played the entire game and was 17-for-27 for 180 yards as New York employed a conservative second-half approach and still came away with the victory.
Replacing star Odell Beckham Jr. in the third quarter, Giants receiver Tavarres King caught a 44-yard pass from Manning late in the game to set up Robbie Gould's go-ahead 48-yard field goal. King came in with three catches for 19 yards in his career.
