The 2019 season is not over yet for Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. They won 10 games this season and are coming off an upset win over the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card weekend. Cousins took the Vikings back to the postseason after a one-year hiatus and did it with a great season.
Cousins signed a three-year deal worth $84 million guaranteed prior to the 2018 season. Despite having the best statistical season of his career, the Vikings missed the playoffs because they struggled at other positions. In 2019, that was not the case. Minnesota had one of the top rushing attacks led by Dalvin Cook. Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter got back to form and the defense fed off of that.
Cousins finished with 3,603 yards and 26 touchdowns to only six interceptions. He did this while being one of the most criticized quarterbacks in the league. Cousins hit some bumps in the road but when looking back at his 2019 campaign, there is more good than bad.
Cousins' 2019 Season Grade
The season got off to a strange statistical start for Cousins. In a 28-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins threw the ball just 10 times and finished with 98 yards. The Vikings would lose two of their next three games to divisional opponents and the critics were back out.
Minnesota proceeded to win six of their next seven games to gain control of a wild card spot. Cousins was playing well until a Monday night when the Vikings hosted the Green Bay Packers. Cousins moved to 0-9 on Monday night after going 16-31 for 122 yards. The talks saying Cousins could not win a big game were louder than ever.
In the Wild Card round, Cousins silenced the critics once and for all. He led an overtime touchdown drive in New Orleans to secure a 26-20 win. He made two perfect throws on the drive. One was a 43-yard dime to Adam Thielen and the other was a perfect throw to the corner of the end zone to win the game. Cousins proved that he could win a big game and his season is not over yet.
The grade will be lower if we are just talking about the regular season. If we count the playoff game, his grade might sneak into the A- range. What will keep his regular-season grade out of the A's is his division record. The Vikings finished 2-4 in division play. They were swept by Green Bay and Chicago. There is an asterisk next to the Week 17 loss to Chicago because Cousins did not play.
Regardless, it was another strong statistical season for Cousins and he has his team playing in the NFC Divisional Round.
Cousins' Season Grade: B+
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