Kirk Cousins finally won the big game in his career

On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings upset the New Orleans Saints in the first NFC Wild Card game. They couldn’t have done it without Kirk Cousins.

Throughout his career, Kirk Cousins has struggled under pressure. Coming into the NFC Wild Card game today, Cousins was 0-1 in playoff games, 6-30 vs. winning teams, and 0-2-2 in overtime games. Whether that’s under the lights in primetime television or stepping up in an important drive, Cousins just isn’t the man that you want when the going gets tough.

Until today.

The Minnesota Vikings played a fantastic game against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints were heavy favorites, but the Vikings defense shutdown Drew Brees and the Saints offense early and the Minnesota running game really stepped up.

The Vikings had a 10-point lead heading into the 4th quarter.

But the Saints wouldn’t be the Saints if they didn’t mount a comeback and the Vikings wouldn’t be the Vikings if they didn’t let them. At a critical moment heading towards the two-minute warning, Cousins and his offense had the opportunity to wind down the clock and put the game away. But the Vikings failed to get a first down and gave the ball back to Brees with two minutes left on the clock.

Will Lutz scored the late 49-yard field goal to force OT. The Vikings won the coin toss, so they got the ball first. According to NFL overtime rules, the Vikings needed a touchdown to win the game. Anything less, and the ball would go back to the Saints.

Once agian, Cousins had the chance to win the game for his team. But could he do it?

The short answer: yes. Not only did the Vikings score a touchdown on the first drive to win the game, but Cousins was critical to that success. He completed a long pass that put the Vikings inside the 5-yard line, and when running the ball didn’t work, he threw a perfect ball to the far corner of the end zone to Kyle Rudolph for the game-winning touchdown.

Kirk Cousins has struggled in the big moments. But today, when the pressure was on his shoulders, he stepped up and performed. He led the No. 6 Minnesota Vikings to a 26-20 overtime win over the No. 3 New Orleans Saints.

Next up: the No. 1 seeded San Francisco 49ers.