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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.?Devin Hester Youth Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Urlacher Youth Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/authentic-tarik-cohen-bears-jersey/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Tom Waddle Bears Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Akiem Hicks Youth Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL.LONDON -- The Russian government assured the IOC on Thursday it will not discriminate against homosexuals during the Sochi Olympics, while defending the law against gay "propaganda" that has provoked an international backlash. The IOC received a letter from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak giving reassurances the host country will comply fully with the Olympic Charters provision against discrimination of any kind. "The Russian Federation guarantees the fulfilment of its obligations before the International Olympic Committee in its entirety," Kozak said. However, Kozak did not back down on the issue of the new law, which penalizes anyone who distributes information aimed at persuading minors that "nontraditional" relationships are normal or attractive. The law applies equally to everyone and "cannot be regarded as discrimination based on sexual orientation," Kozak said. The letter still leaves open the question of what would happen to Olympic athletes or fans if they make statements or gestures that could be considered propaganda. The law has provoked harsh international criticism ahead of the Feb. 7-23 Winter Olympics in the Russian resort of Sochi. Some activists have called for a boycott of the games, though President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have ruled that out. Kozaks letter came after IOC President Jacques Rogge asked the Russians for further clarifications on the law and how it could impact on the Sochi Games. "We have today received strong written reassurances from the Russian government that everyone will be welcome at the games in Sochi regardless of their sexual orientation," Rogge said in a statement. The letter was addressed to Jean Claude-Killy, the French IOC member who heads the co-ordination commission for the Sochi Games. Its still not clear if an athlete or spectator could be prosecuted for weaaring a badge or rainbow pin or waving a small flag in solidarity with gay rights.dddddddddddd Political gestures of any kind are also prohibited by the IOC. The issue attracted attention at the world athletics championships in Moscow last week when Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow to support gay rights. The gesture prompted Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva to complain that Green Tregaro was disrespecting Russia. In his letter, Kozak said the legislation does not impose any restrictions on sexual orientation, and stressed the Russian constitution prohibits discrimination against anyone based on sex, race or religion. The law on gay propaganda, he said, centres on the "restriction of information that promotes non-traditional sexual relationships among children." "These legislations apply equally to all persons, irrespective of their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, and cannot be regarded as discrimination based on sexual orientation," he said. The letter added: "These requirements do not attract any limitations for participants and spectators of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi on their legal right of residence in the territory of the Russian Federation or participation in any events stipulated in the Games program that are contradictory to the Olympic Charter or universally recognized standards of international law on human rights." Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993 and Russian officials have been at pains to emphasize that the law does not penalize gay orientation or activity. However, the law reflects widespread animosity toward homosexuals in Russian society and its vagueness troubles many. It appears possible that anyone wearing a rainbow flag on the street or writing about gay relationships on Facebook, for instance, could be accused of propagandizing. ' ' '