Since winning his 1st career start (2012), Kirk Cousins has lost 4 straight, including once to the GiantsWeek 4 of the NFL season begins tonight when the New York Giants make the short trip to take on the Washington Redskins.

Chance to Reach Playoffs
By W-L Through 4 Games

Both teams enter 1-2. History shows us that you have over a 36 percent chance of making the playoffs after starting 2-2, compared to a 14 percent chance at 1-3.

Road troubles on Thursday night

The Giants will be looking to buck a bad trend to start the 2014 season. All three road teams on Thursday night – Packers, Steelers and Buccaneers – have lost by at least 20 points.

Those three teams are averaging 12 points per game, compared to 39.0 for the Seahawks, Ravens and Falcons.

The Redskins haven’t hosted a Thursday night game since 2007 (a win over the Bears). Washington has played on the road on Thursday night three times since, going 1-2, including a loss to the Giants in 2008.

Is Kirk Cousins a better option for the Redskins?

With Robert Griffin III missing an unexpected period of time after dislocating his ankle in Week 2, Kirk Cousins has taken over the starting quarterback duties.

The two passers could not be more different.

Redskins QBs Passing in Pocket
This Season

Cousins has provided the Redskins with a more traditional pocket passer. He has thrown 40 of his 73 pass attempts at or beyond the first-down marker (55 percent) from inside the pocket.

In comparison, RGIII threw 7-of-32 passes at or beyond the first-down marker (22 percent) from inside the pocket.

Cousins’ quick release has helped his offensive line keep him clean as well. He’s held the ball for at least three seconds on only 18-of-81 attempts (22 percent).

Griffin held the ball for at least three seconds before passing on 15-of-40 attempts (38 percent) this season, the highest percentage in the league.

As a result, Cousins has been sacked, under duress or hit while throwing on 13 percent of his total dropbacks compared with Griffin’s 36 percent, which would rank fourth-highest among qualified quarterbacks behind Chad Henne, Geno Smith and Russell Wilson.

Quick hitters

• The Giants have been dependent on winning the turnover battle the past two seasons, something they did in their Week 3 win but not in their two losses. New York is 6-0 when winning the battle since the start of 2013, but only 2-11 when they are even or minus in turnover margin.

• Tight end Larry Donnell has been the most targeted Giants receiver this season (23). Donnell has twice as many receiving first downs (12) than the next highest Giants receiver, including five of the team’s nine passing conversions on third down. Last season Giants tight ends combined for nine third-down conversions.

• Eli Manning has won two straight and nine of his last 12 starts against Washington.

• The Redskins have scored a league-best 75 points the past 2 weeks after scoring six points in Week 1.

• The Redskins are one of four defenses not to allow a rushing touchdown so far this season. They allowed an NFL-worst 23 rushing touchdowns last season.

• Washington recorded 10 sacks in Week 2 on Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne. They have yet to record a sack against anyone else.