Vikings due for a “Cousins Game”
Dustin Baker
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Vikings Due for a “Kirk Game”
The Minnesota Vikings have triumphed in two football games in 2020 – at Houston and Green Bay. It is highly unlikely that national pundits or Vikings loyalists circled those contests as Minnesota’s only wins when the NFL released schedules last spring. Nevertheless, that is where the 2020 Vikings stand through eight weeks, 2-5. To date, Minnesota has endured the most difficult schedule of all 16 teams in the NFC. After the victory over the Packers, the Vikings schedule now softens. Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, and Carolina are the proceeding November opponents — all matchups that Minnesota can feasibly win.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has incurred a “down year” byto his usual standards. In 2019, Minnesota’s signal-caller tallied a 107.4 passer rating and a 60.4 QBR. This season, though, he is responsible for a 91.9 passer rating with a 53.2 QBR. Both marks are noteworthy departures from Cousins’ 2019 Pro Bowl campaign.
The Vikings traded longtime wideout Stefon Diggs to Buffalo before the 2020 NFL Draft. Fears swirled that Cousins’ would suffer a drop-off in production as Diggs emerged as a certifiable deep-threat in 2019. In his previous four seasons, the Bills pass-catcher was a decent deep-ball option but did not fully blossom in this regard until last season.
Perhaps an adjustment phase was needed for life-without-Diggs, yet that is a head-scratcher. The Vikings drafted LSU wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, as Diggs’ replacement – and Jefferson has been marvelous. The 21-year-old leads all NFL rookies in receiving yards through Week 8 (563 yards). Ergo, the “he does not have Diggs” contention is a little perplexing.
Cousins is due for a breakout performance – one that vivifies why Minnesota’s front office has invested so many dollars in the Michigan State alumnus.
And, there is a tangible chance that occurs in Week versus Detroit.
3-TD, 0-INT Performance Drought
Cousins has tossed three touchdowns in two separate games this year, but those performances were marred by interceptions and a quasi-garbage time labeling (especially against Atlanta). He has undoubtedly stuffed some touchdowns into box scores. The gusto for these scores, though, is restrained when his team is three games south of .500.
The last time Cousins threw three touchdowns and no picks was a memorable occasion. The Vikings inexplicably bumbled to a 20-point deficit against the Broncos on November 17th, 2019, and Cousins personally spearheaded the comeback. All told, he finished the Week 11 tryst with three scores and no interceptions. More importantly, he was awarded a massive comeback to scribble on his resume.
But that was nearly one year ago – that is a problem. Cousins has thrown 3+ touchdowns and one or fewer interceptions in his career 21 times.
He’s due.
Wins via Dalvin
Sometimes the offensive gameplan simply does not require Cousins to do much. Head coach Mike Zimmer enjoys rushingthe football, limiting turnovers, playing stingy defense, and running the clock out. It is very much a Bill Parcells-inspired brand of football.
Versus Green Bay last weekend, winds emulated a mini-tropical depression, and neither Aaron Rodgers nor Cousins launched the football with frequency. The game was a dogfight. It was won on the back of halfback Dalvin Cook and a sprinkling of second-half defense.
Additionally, Minnesota edged Houston one month ago. Again, Cousins was not a prolific sponsor of touchdown passes. Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison combined for three rushing touchdowns to complement Cousins’ 260 passing yards. The quarterback was not asked to finish out scoring drives with his arm – he was asked to give the ball to running backs in order to gash a suspect defensive line.
Cousins is capable of engineering wins with his arm – check the tape. Yet, when an MVP candidate such as Cook is hungry for the ball, Zimmer prefers to whet the man’s appetite.
Cousins Has Superb History vs. Lions
Should Cousins deliver a big game on his own accord, the Detroit Lions are suitable pawns. His career numbers versus Detroit are outstanding. In five career games, he has notched 10 touchdowns to just one interception en route to a sizzling 120.2 passer rating. Four wins (with the Vikings) and just one loss (as a member of the Washington Football team) are the byproduct of those statistics.
The Lions surrender two passing touchdowns per game. This ranks 21st in the NFL. Matt Patricia’s bunch ranks in the lower tiers of the league in this metric and passing yards allowed. Therefore, Cousins should not encounter a ferocious passing defense this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium, in theory. This is caveated because the forecast before the Falcons contest was eerily similar.
If history is any indicator, however, Cousins will thrive against Detroit in Week 9 – and extend his win streak over Detroit to five consecutive games.