It's time for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to be talked about as an MVP candidate

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has played great football lately. It's now past time that his name is added to the MVP conversation.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing like an MVP candidate and it's time he finally gets the attention he deserves.

Even Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who some believe doesn't have the best relationship with the quarterback, said it's past time people start giving Cousins credit for what he has done. Diggs' comment after Cousins led the team back from a 20-0 deficit against the Denver Broncos.

“He’s playing lights out, he’s doing a great job, and you guys need to give him more credit,” Diggs said, via S am Ekstrom of Zone Coverage. “You guys are hard on him when he isn’t playing well. He’s doing everything he can. Right now, he just helped us get back in the game to win the game.”'

There is no doubt that Cousins had his struggles during his first season with the Vikings. However, it has been a different story in 2019 as he finally looks comfortable in Minnesota. This season, he has put together just one performance in which he struggled, which was a road game in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears.

Since head coach Mike Zimmer came to Minnesota, this has been a defense-first team. When Cousins was brought in to be the Vikings' quarterback, the thought was that he could be a game manager and make a big throw once or twice a game.

This season, the defense isn't playing as well as it has over the past couple of seasons and they've been winning games through Cousins' excellence. A couple of games ago against the Dallas Cowboys, he threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings needed every one of those yards as the Vikings came out ahead 28-24.

Against the Denver Broncos, the play calling was ultra-conservative and Cousins wasn't able to do a whole lot. In the second half, the Vikings were forced to lean on him and he made all the right throws passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. The last four possessions for Minnesota ended in touchdowns and they were able to come away with a win.

One quarterback who has been talked about a lot in the MVP discussion is Russell Wilson and for good reason, because he is having an impressive season. He has thrown for 2,737 yards, 23 touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Cousins' stats aren't that far behind having thrown for 2,756 yards, 21 touchdowns, and three interceptions. If he can continue to the strong play and the Vikings continue to win games, there is no reason he shouldn't get some MVP votes at season end.