Kirk Cousins’ 2022 Season is Going Under the Radar Right Now
YOU LIKE THAT? Kirk Cousins in 2022 is back and better than ever. He’s slung his way to over 3,800 yards which is sixth highest in the league and 11 big wins for the Minnesota Vikings. Yet all anyone cares about is his amazing supporting cast, brilliant head coach, and MVP-candidate wide receiver. Here’s why Cousins deserves as much credit as anyone in the success the Vikings will have this year.
Justin Jefferson is elite no doubt. Let’s get that out of the way. He’s an MVP candidate in my eyes for a reason and Cousin most definitely owes JJettas in helping him reinvigorate his own career.
Kevin O’Connell is also a brilliant coach. He’s made this offense really start to fire on all cylinders, getting everyone involved in different ways. That’s helped get the best out of Cousins this year, too.
Beyond those two guys though, I don’t think Cousins has had that much to work with. Dalvin Cook is a household name but if you’ve been watching him this year, he, frankly, has been really average. He’s no top-five running back anymore, maybe not even top-10. Heck, his brother James might be better right now. Cook’s box scores look good due to volume but the burst and elite quick first step just isn’t there anymore.
Adam Thielen is not that guy anymore. Honestly, I think K.J. Osborn is the second leading wide receiver the rest of the season because he’s earned it more than Thielen. They’re both decent pieces to have but nothing exceptional.
I will say T.J. Hockenson though, as much as some people here despise his draft capital, has been a great addition for the Vikes. He’s become an important safety valve for Cousins and truly helped him down the stretch.
So now when you look at it, sure Cousins has one elite weapon and a few other decent pieces. Nothing crazy, but surely above average.
Let’s talk about the glaring weaknesses in this team, though. The offensive line is awful. Not just your normal awful but truly, terrible. Cousins has been sacked 40 times. 40. The fact that this team is 11-3 with a quarterback that’s been sacked is amazing.
You want to know the other quarterbacks that have taken 40 sacks this year? Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Daniel Jones. So generally, this isn’t really a recipe for success but somehow Kirk Cousins has made it work.
But he probably had a solid defense working their tail off and making his job easier, right? Right?
Well, anyone who’s watched the Minnesota Vikings this year knows their defense absolutely reeks. They’re giving up a whopping 25 points per game, good enough to put them in the bottom-five of the league. You’re just NOT supposed to be an elite team with a bottom-five defense. But the Minnesota Vikings are. Kirk Cousins has made it so.
People have always doubted his big-game ability and I think he put that to bed this year for good with a massive victory against the Bills and of course the greatest NFL comeback of all time — granted it was only the Indianapolis Colts.
He hasn’t been a game manager. Cousins has been consistently slinging it downfield and he’s as big of a reason as any for the Vikings success. It’s time that everyone starts treating him like that.
He may not be elite, but he has without question proved himself as an above average starting quarterback and someone that has the skill to go win a Super Bowl. I think we see Kirk Cousins in a Super Bowl before he retires you know. I really do.
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