Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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Let's talk Kirk Cousins. Distributed the ball, getting even production in catches and yards from multiple targets. Used his legs to extend drives. Hated the fumble, but no question he was the better QB on Sunday. He has been playing extremely well overall lately.
— Jeff Kilty in Sacramento, California
We'll start this Mailbag with the starting quarterback, who had a great outing in Sunday's win. He completed 34 of 45 passes for 307 yards with three scores and no interceptions. He had a passer rating of 115.7, his fourth straight game above 100.
He absolutely was money down the stretch for the Vikings, completing 12 of 13 passes for 136 yards with two scores on the final two drives.
There was a lot of talk about Teddy Bridgewater's return to Minnesota this week, and rightfully so. But on Sunday, Cousins proved why the Vikings signed him back in 2018 and handed out a contract extension this offseason.
Yes, the fumble was a trouble spot as it was his second lost fumble in as many games. But he was blitzed on the play and didn't have much time to react. And the way he responded late was incredible.
Cousins had plenty of help — more on that in a second — but he played and delivered like a franchise quarterback in the final 10 minutes against the Panthers.
And with no Adam Thielen, perhaps his best attribute was simply spreading the ball around. Bisi Johnson (74 yards), Justin Jefferson (70 yards and 2 TDs), Kyle Rudolph (68 yards) and Chad Beebe (63 yards and a score) each had seven catches on Sunday.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, that was just the second time in NFL history for a team to have four players with seven or more catches and at least 60 yards apiece, joining New Orleans on Dec. 23, 2012.
Cousins has gotten hot just when the Vikings have needed it most, as Minnesota won four of five games in November. The quarterback was red-hot in that month, completing 105 of 145 passes (72.4 percent) for 1,293 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception (that bounced off Thielen's hands in Chicago).
We'll see how the final five games play out for the Vikings — and we'll get into playoff possibilities here shortly — but if Cousins keeps this up, perhaps Minnesota can make some noise down the stretch.