The Minnesota Vikings backed up the Brinks truck for quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2018. That year, it looked like a serious mistake.
Cousins simply did not look like he was worth the type of money they gave up for him. It also didn't help that they were 13-3 and sniffing the Super Bowl the year before Cousins got there. Then they went 8-7-1 and didn't even make the playoffs in the first year with the new quarterback.
2019 was different in a number of ways. Here are three reasons why 2019 was a massive success for Cousins and the Vikings.
3. Winning
Cousins and the Vikings improved in 2019.
Not everything was perfect for Kirk Cousins. He threw for just 3,603 yards in 15 games. That's the first time he failed to throw for over 4,000 yards as a full-time starter. His 26 touchdown passes were also the second-lowest as a full-time starter (25 in 2016).
However, he also had a career-low six interceptions. His 8.1 yards per attempt were tied for a career-best as well.
Meanwhile, the Vikings went 10-6 and made it to the playoffs. That's the best record Cousins has ever had as a starter. Clearly, a lot of improvements were made as everyone got more comfortable with each other.
This also points towards a possible trend. The longer Cousins is with the team, the more comfortable they get. That could lead to more success.
2. Playoff Success
Speaking of success, the Vikings made it to the playoffs. Not only that, they won a game in the Wild Card round, beating the New Orleans Saints.
While they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round, that Wild Card win means a lot.
I know it doesn't sound like much, winning one playoff game shouldn't be much to talk about usually right?
Well, Cousins has long been criticized for not showing up in big games. In fact, he never had a playoff win.
So picking up a win is a getting a monumental monkey off Kirk Cousins' back.
He wasn't especially phenomenal in that game (19-for-31 with 242 yards and one touchdown). But he was solid and got a win. Could that growth continue in the future?
He now at least has a playoff win, so there's something to point to.
1. Leadership
The Vikings had a lot of issues early on in the season. After four weeks, they were 2-2. Not only that, but there were a lot of problems inside the team.
Stefon Diggs rumors were swirling, people seemed unhappy, and the team was not playing good.
Minnesota then won four straight and six of their next seven. Of course, they ended up 10-6 and making the playoffs.
It seemed like people were a little happier too. At least there weren't as many leaks about issues anymore.
Now, that doesn't exactly mean Cousins stepped up and got the locker room together for the run. Two things though.
First of all, he is the quarterback. You would expect the QB to take command.
Second, Cousins was getting a hefty chunk of the blame when things were going wrong. It's only fair to give him some of the props when things go right.
Can Cousins' leadership guide the Vikings to success in the future? That's still to be seen.
But if 2019 was any indication, it sure looks like it.
Follow Us
Subscribe