The Washington Redskins clinched the first place in the NFC East on December 26th, 2015, when Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns en route to defeat division rival Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24.

Cousins looked a bit rusty in the first six games of 2015, throwing 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, but has since appeared sharp, adding 20 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions the next nine games. I believe he is the quarterback of the future for Washington. Period. This shouldn't even be a debate. Captain Kirk has showed the league that he is fully capable of winning games with a full year of Gruden's system under his belt. His decision-making has improved, his poise is developing, and his teammates like him.

No to mention, Cousins is breaking all sorts of records with his completion percentage (69.5%), passing yards (3,990), and touchdowns (26 passing, 5 rushing) held by previous Redskin greats.

Cousins is surrounded by a talented receiving corps. Pierre Garcon does it all and can run any pattern. He's tough and has great hands. DeSean Jackson is the speedster and can burn you on the deep ball. Rookie slot receiver Jamison Crowder ranks high among all rookie receivers with 54 receptions. He's quick too, and can work the short to intermediate routes over the middle and in the flats. Then there's Ryan Grant, a receiver not known for his speed but rather his route running, separation, and soft hands.

Matt Jones has displayed flashes of greatness, catching a 78 yard screen pass against New Orleans, and rushing for two touchdowns and over 100 yards versus St. Louis. He is a running back with solid vision, good hands, shiftiness, and a quick burst. He could solidify himself as the primary runner in Washington, should incumbent Alfred Morris sign elsewhere. Chris Thompson is a nice change-of-pace back, showing speed on the outside and surprisingly effective downfield receiving capability.

Brandon Scherrf is coming along not as fast as most would like but is still the future of Washington's offensive line along with four-time pro bowler, Trent Williams. Morgan Moses has been the most pleasant surprise for me on the offensive line. Though called for holding a lot, Moses has improved greatly from 2014 as the team's starting right tackle.

The defense, overall, has been okay. They're defintely not horrible but they're also definitely not amazing. They have struggled against the run for most of the year, ranked in the bottom half for interceptions, and undergone their fair share of injuries. However, the defense has been very good at forcing fumbles and performed fairly well against the pass. Ryan Kerrigan has once again solidified himself as the Redskins' best pass rusher while Bashaud Breeland is turning into one of the rising stars in the secondary. The defense lacks a tackling machine at middle linebacker, though.

In conclusion, Washington appears to have its long-term answer at quarterback in Kirk Cousins. Washington has the weapons on offense and with a few more draft picks on defense, the team will be consistently dominant.

The future is bright for the Washington Redskins. You like that!