Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins posted a Total QBR over 60 just twice in his first six starts of the season, but he has delivered back-to-back 90-plus games in November. He surged?up the leaderboard?to sixth in the NFL by posting a personal season-best 94.1 Total QBR?on Sunday against Green Bay.If we look only at Weeks 7 through 11, Cousins jumps to third with an 83.5 during that time frame, trailing only Dak Prescott (87.5) and Tom Brady (84.2) and just ahead of Drew Brees (80.0).So what has changed for Cousins?Most importantly, he cut down on his turnovers. Cousins threw at least one interception in five of his first six games and fumbled three times. He was lucky enough not to lose any of them, but as weve brought up before, simply fumbling is a damaging play, even if recovered by the offense.Since then, Cousins has thrown just one pick, and it wasnt a particularly damaging one. It came on a third-and-14 at the Redskins 37-yard line with 2:33 left in the second quarter of an eventual tie against Cincinnati in London. The interception came 44 yards downfield -- in effect it was about as good as an average punt would be, with the Bengals taking over at their own 14.Cousins did fumble three times against Detroit in Week 7 (losing one), but hasnt put the ball on the ground since, and all three of his fumble-free games ended with a Total QBR over 75.Cousins has also taken advantage of favorable third-down situations, and that has helped fuel his QBR rise.From Weeks 1 through 6, no team had a shorter average third-down distance than the Redskins, needing about 6.5 yards per third-down for a conversion. The problem was, Cousins and the offense werent converting. Cousins had a 23.7 raw QBR on third downs early on, garnering just 23 first downs on 57 pass attempts (40.3 percent) while taking four sacks, throwing two interceptions and fumbling two times.Since then, Washington has had slightly more advantageous third downs (6.4 yards needed for a first down), but Cousins has dramatically raised his QBR to 92.3 on those plays, third-highest in the league from Weeks 7 through 11.The main driver (aside from avoiding the turnovers, as weve already covered) is converting those third downs into first downs. The Redskins as a team are converting 55.2 percent of their third downs since Week 7, including 54.5 percent of his pass attempts, third-highest in the league. These are all up sharply from Weeks 1 through 6, when the Redskins converted 37.7 percent of third downs (12th-best) and Cousins completed 40.4 percent of his pass attempts (14th).So by cutting down on turnovers and greatly improving his efficiency on third downs, Cousins has been able pull the Redskins back into the thick of the playoff hunt. ESPNs Football Power Index currently gives the Redskins a 51.3 percent chance to make the playoffs.A look at Cousins progression this season:For more from ESPN Analytics, visit the ESPN Analytics Index.? Buy Adidas Superstar Online . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Adidas Superstar Cheap . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.cheapadidassuperstar.us/ . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Cheap Adidas Superstar China . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Adidas Superstar Wholesale .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon flipped his glove into the stands as he walked off the field.Yeah. Give it to a fan is better than throwing it away, he said.It was that kind of Tuesday night for Rodon, who struggled again as the Chicago White Sox lost 9-0 to the New York Yankees. The left-hander matched season highs by allowing six runs and 12 hits in five innings while dropping to 0-3 with a 4.93 ERA in his last six starts.It comes down to command, manager Robin Ventura said. This is the wrong lineup to be erratic and get behind. It just seemed like every hitter was 2-0, 2-1 and you just cant do it.Brett Gardner had four of New Yorks season-high 20 hits, and Chase Headley hit a two-run homer for the second straight day. Austin Romine also connected, and Masahiro Tanaka (6-2) pitched into the eighth inning while improving to 4-1 with a 1.14 ERA in eight road starts.Everyone really getting a chance to swing the bat well today and everyone contributing, thats always nice, New York manager Joe Girardi said.Carlos Beltran, who had three hits, and relievers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances were picked for the All-Star Game from the Yankees, and White Sox ace Chris Sale joined the trio on the AL roster announced before New Yorks win.Im fortunate, man, the 39-year-old Beltran said. Every single one is special, and this one will be special also.Chicago (43-41) had won three in a row and six of eight, but it was completely shut down by Tanaka. The Japanese right-hander allowed six hits and walked one in 7 2/3 innings.Once they got the lead he just seemed to get into a nice little groove of throwing a few more fastballs but slowing it down, Ventura said. He had some that were in the 70s. Hes just able to keep you off balance.Beltran singled in the first but was stranded at third when Headley strucck out with the bases loaded.ddddddddddddBeltran hit an RBI single in New Yorks two-run second, then doubled and scored in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.Rodon (2-7) struck out three and walked two. He threw 59 of his 92 pitches for strikes.With regards to everything, gotta move on from this one and just forget about it, he said. Come back after the All-Star break and think of it as a new season.HELLO A-RODYankees slugger Alex Rodriguez served as the designated hitter in his first start since Thursday -- before a weekend series at San Diego. He went 1 for 6 with a first-inning double.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: OF Jacoby Ellsbury was held out of the lineup. Girardi said Ellsbury was a little sore and got an ice pack for his leg after Mondays 8-2 loss, but it was a scheduled day off with a left-hander on the mound.White Sox: C Alex Avila has left with a right hamstring strain and is headed for the disabled list. Get a MRI in the morning and see the severity, he said. ... 1B Justin Morneau, coming back from left elbow surgery, went 0 for 2 and was hit by a pitch in his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Charlotte. The timing is the most important thing, he said in a phone interview before the game. You know, see pitches. The results at this point Im not too worried about that.UP NEXTRHPs Michael Pineda of the Yankees and Miguel Gonzalez of the White Sox face off in the series finale on Wednesday night. Pineda (3-7, 5.24 ERA) went 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six June starts. 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