Kirk Cousins has been a polarizing quarterback since he entered the NFL in 2012. It’s still true in 2020.
His style of play is loved by many — and hated by many. He clearly has arm talent at all levels of the field, both in terms of strength and accuracy. However, between his pocket presence and apparent lack of performance in big spots, there was ample material for the doubters.
During his tenure in Washington, Cousins put up big numbers — the types of numbers that garner widespread attention and fan adoration. Prior to 2019, Cousins had recorded at least 4,000 yards passing in each season he was the full-time starter. Meanwhile, he has not thrown fewer than 25 touchdowns in a season since becoming a full-time starting quarterback.
Those are Pro Bowl numbers.
But those numbers didn’t translate to wins as efficiently as they do for other quarterbacks. Cousins was the starter for three seasons in Washington and never won 10 games in a season.
Many have pointed to his performance in big games as a reason for this. Cousins is notorious for his poor record on the road and his record in prime-time games.
Ultimately, Cousins failed to win a playoff game in three seasons with the Redskins before they decided they no longer wanted to pay him top dollar. That’s when the Minnesota Vikings decided to sign him.
Most would agree that his two seasons in Minnesota have fallen short of expectations. When he joined the team in 2018, the Vikings were coming off a 13-3 season and a berth in the NFC Championship. Seemingly the only missing piece was a quarterback to bring the team over the top. This wasn’t just the conclusion the fans came up with. It was, essentially, the message the Vikings brass promoted when Cousins was added.
As we know, the Vikings have not reached the level of the 2017 season since Cousins was brought on the team. Is that all his fault? Of course not. But this is what is so fascinating about the polarization of Cousins. Both sides are right.
The 2019 season was Cousins’ most efficient as a starter, finishing at 8.1 yards per attempt and a 26:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He was also one of the best passers in the league on deep balls and carried the Vikings offense in a number of games. If you replace Cousins with a completely average quarterback in 2019, the Vikings are probably not a playoff team.
On the other hand, Cousins did come up small in a number of important games in 2019 that could have been the difference between a home playoff game or even a first-round bye. In particular, Cousins was subpar in both losses to the Packers and the loss at Chicago. That’s three extremely important divisional games that could have turned the tide of the season if they had been wins.
Much has also been made of the team around Cousins, both in Washington and in Minnesota. He’s had a solid receiving corps virtually his entire career. Pass protection was probably better in Washington, sure, but Minnesota’s defense has been significantly better than the Redskins defense was in the 2015-2017 seasons.
The 2020 season presents a large opportunity for Cousins because he can prove a heck of a lot. Minnesota has lost a plethora of key contributors on both sides of the ball. Many football fans, whether they root for the Vikings or not, have suggested this is a rebuilding year for Minnesota. The receiving corps will be different. Head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense is a shell of the league-leading unit it once was. Playoffs are seemingly not the expectation.
Cousins has proven that he has exceptional arm talent. He has proven that he can post the incredible yards and touchdowns statistics. He has proven he can throw deep passes better than almost anyone. He has proven he can be a piece to a puzzle that wins games.
In 2020, Cousins can prove that he can carry a team on his back. He can prove that he has the ability to make the big play when needed, and that the overtime playoff win at New Orleans wasn’t an anomaly.
Cousins has an opportunity to prove that he’s elite by taking this Vikings team to the playoffs in 2020.
