Cousins’ MVP Stock Raises with Oddsmakers
Dustin Baker
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Please note: This article originally appeared on our flagship site, VikingsTerritory.com.
Quietly through two games and then loudly versus the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Kirk Cousins has become the best football player on the Minnesota Vikings through three weeks.
On the whole, he isn’t as good as, for example, Danielle Hunter or Eric Kendricks. But his recent thumbprints on football games have unilaterally kept the team afloat amid some defensive struggles. In three contests, Cousins dimed eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and lost no fumbles. Regrettably, the Vikings only have one measly win to show for it because a shady running back fumble and outrageous missed field goal disqualified victory aspirations in Weeks 1 and 2.
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The mind-boggling aspect of Cousins’ stellar output in 2021 is the recognition. Folks are starting to realize Cousins is actually a talented passer. Before the start of 2021, a dug-in camp of anti-Cousins truthers insisted his merits were discounted by make-believe metrics – like “Cousins only excels in garbage time,” or “He only throws short passes,” or “All he does is manage the game.” A counterpoint morsel of yeah-but habitually followed Cousins. Until now.
If only for a month or so, the narrative is changing.
Correspondingly, Cousins’ odds to win the NFL MVP award are morphing, too. To be clear, the award will likely still be seized by a household name like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, or the rejuvenated Matthew Stafford. Yet, Cousins is beginning to get tread in MVP conversations – a first-ever occurrence in his 10-season career.
The proof is in the pudding.
Cousins’ MVP odds have moved in sportsbooks from +5000 in the preseason to +3500 after Week 3. Per SportsBettingDime.com, here’s the field:
The Vikings signal-caller lives in a territory between Jalen Hurts – who stunk on Monday Night Football – and a Derek Carr-Lamar Jackson sampler platter. A month ago, Cousins existed in the +5000 range, just before the running backs pop up on the MVP odds radar.
And here’s the deal: Cousins stock would be in the +1800 or +2500 range if his team took care of business against the Bengals and Cardinals. MVP hardware is awarded to winners. In September, the Vikings were not winners. They were defeat-from-the-jaws-victory merchants, and Cousins’ MVP hopes suffered because of those wacky happenings. It is unlikely he cares about missing out on the September MVP chatter. However, as a matter of fact, a 2-1 or 3-0 record would slide the Michigan State alumnus near the front of the pack.
The profitability by Cousins in 2021 is dual-faceted. First, he’s just damn good. Cousins sprinkles in trashy performances once in a while – see 2020 games against the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons – but they’re outliers. His bad games are awful – and that is the one trait that sets him apart from his illustrious quarterback peers.
What’s more, the Vikings offensive line is protecting Cousins. It’s remarkable, foreign, and long-anticipated. Here’s perspective:
Minnesota hosts Cleveland this weekend, seeking to further the one-game momentum of vanquishing the Seahawks. Those Browns employ Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, so the newfound Vikings offensive line must bring its lunchbox to work.
A win over the Browns would increase the fervor of Cousins-for-MVP discussions. Sometimes, it’s incredible those chats are occurring at all based on the false stereotypes linked to Cousins’ reputation.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).